NEW DELHI: Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Thursday wrote to Speaker of Lok Sabha Om Birla claiming that he was not allowed to speak freely at the meeting of the Parliamentary Defense Commission and sought their intervention, the sources said. In his letter, Gandhi urged the president to ensure that the right of elected deputies to speak freely at parliamentary panel meetings is protected.
He also said that the Speaker, being the custodian of Parliament, must ensure that the discussions and presentations in the defense panel are in line with his role and objectives.
Gandhi and other members of his party withdrew from the Parliamentary Defense Committee meeting on Wednesday, claiming that the panel’s time was being wasted discussing the military uniform rather than the crucial issue of national security.
He was not allowed to speak at the meeting for the panel chair Jual Oram (BJP) when it tried to raise the issues of Chinese aggression and better equip soldiers on the border in Ladakh, sources said.
“It is the right of a member to point out deviations from the agenda and the purpose of the Standing Committee. The Committee is free to disagree with what I say, but the fact that the President does not even allow a member to speak is a sad comment on how he runs the government. military affairs.
“Sir, as a spokesperson for the Lok Sabha and custodian of the Chamber, I urge you to intervene and ensure that the discussions and presentations made in the defense committee are in line with the role and objective of the institution and that the right of elected deputies to speak freely is protected “, Congress wrote the leader.
He expressed his dismay at the content of the meeting and the way it was conducted and said that it is intended to provide legislative oversight over the policies and decisions of the Ministry of Defense, being the main interface between the defense forces and elected representatives. .
Gandhi said that the agenda for discussion at the meeting was military uniforms, but considering the current military situation, he found it surprising.
.
