MLAs should be allowed to speak beyond whip: Tiwari

BJP rebel MLA Ghanshyam Tiwari today raised a point of order on allowing members to speak in the Assembly saying that the legislators should not be bound by the list provided by the respective party leaders and whips.
He raised the issue just before the debate on the Budget 2018-19, saying that the chair secures the right to expression of the members.
"If the members speak only by the names provided the party leaders and whips then the internal democracy of the house will collapse," Tiwari said.
On which, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Rathore said Tiwari was in doubt that his name is not in the list of speakers.

He is a senior member and was allowed to speak in the past as well, he said.
Rathore said the tradition of providing list of names of speakers is in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha as well, but if Tiwari wants any amendment then he can submit a report before the rules committee of the House.
After hearing the views of other members of the House, Deputy Speaker Rao Rajendra Singh said the chair was not bound by the list of names provided by the party leaders and whips to allow the members to speak.
He said members can request the chair, if they were in doubt that they are not being allowed to speak by the respective party leaders and whips.