BJP MPs move privilege motion against Vadra

In an apparent bid to counter the Opposition's demand for resignations of BJP ministers, two party parliamentarians on Thursday moved a privilege motion against Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra. The Congress reacted, saying it never indulged in revenge politics when it was in power.

Vadra had allegedly criticised the functioning of parliament in a Facebook post earlier this week.

The motion was moved by BJP chief whip in the Lok Sabha Arjun Ram Meghwal and Prahlad Joshi, Lok Sabha member from Dharwad, Karnataka.

"In his (Vadra's) Facebook post, he belittled the image of parliament. That's why I moved the privilege motion," Joshi told IANS.

Meghwal in his notice said Vadra criticised the functioning of parliament and wanted that the issue be referred to the privileges committee and he be brought before the house.

Joshi and Meghwal raised the issue in parliament too.

Soon after it was raised, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Jyotiraditya Scindia rushed to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's chamber.

Sources said the Congress leaders urged Mahajan not to accept the notice, which was opposed by Ministers of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

However, the speaker told the leaders that she will take the decision after consultation.

Reacting to the privilege motion, the Congress said it never indulged in revenge politics when it was in power.

"We did not resort to tit for tat action, we did not indulge in revenge, we did not let loose our agencies to settle scores," Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters.

"Instead of taking action, they (BJP leaders) are taking revenge. The Congress never took revenge. To silence the opposition, they are using every mechanism. It is undemocratic," Azad said.

Vadra, whose land deals in Haryana and Rajasthan are being probed, talked about "diversionary politics" and "so-called leaders" in his Facebook post on July 21, the first day of the monsoon session of parliament.

Vadra also tweeted: "Parliament begins and so does their petty diversion political tactics. People of India are not fooled. Regret to see India led by such so called leaders."