RS members, Govt condemn protest against Kurien in Kerala

Government today condemned an incident of protest against Deputy Chairman P J Kurien at a university in Kerala last week as members in Rajya Sabha today expressed serious concern over it.
According to reports, Kurien was last week shown black flags at the MG University campus in Kerala by a group of people said to be activists of BJP Yuva Morcha, who claimed he had abruptly adjourned Rajya Sabha during a debate on Rohith Vemula suicide and the JNU incident when HRD Minister Smriti Irani was speaking.
Kurien, who was in the Chair when the issue was raised by TRS member Dr K Keshava Rao, however said the incident had arisen because of a "misundertanding" and he had no personal complaint to make in the matter.

Raising the issue, Rao said he was moving a Privilege Motion on three parties including the BJP on the incident and said that it was an instance of "bullying tactics" and "rowdyism". This, he said, was a threat to free debate in the House.
Several other opposition members supported Rao. CPI leader D Raja also expressed anguish, saying "it is a matter of protecting the office of Presiding Officer" and an "attack on the Presiding officer outside (the House) is attack on parliamentary democracy."
As opposition members expressed concern, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government had learnt of the incidents from news reports and it "condemns" such an incident.

Naqvi told the House that BJP President Amit Shah and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu have sought a report from the state unit of the party regarding the incident and if required, action would also be taken.

Kurien said the protest was result of a misunderstanding and though he could have complained in his official capacity, he had not done so. He said the matter should not be stretched too much.
The Deputy Chairman also requested Rao not to press his privilege notice as the Minister had also condemned the incident.
Earlier, BSP chief Mayawati also stood up and said that a case of breach of privilege was made against HRD Minister Irani for presenting wrong facts. Kurien assured the BSP chief that the matter would be considered.