SC order on privilege proceeding:UP Speaker convenes all-party meet

Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey today convened an all-party meeting to deliberate on the situation arising out of a Supreme Court order staying the appearance of journalists of a news channel before House privileges committee in connection with a sting operation on Muzaffarnagar riots.
The Speaker informed the House soon after the Question Hour that the Supreme Court has stayed the proceedings over the Muzaffarnagar sting operation against the media house and have given four weeks' time to it to give its reply.
He said that the meeting of the leaders of all parties would decide on the future course of action on the issue.

The matter of hearing and fixing of punishment on the people involved in the sting operation concerning senior minister Azam Khan was scheduled to be taken up today after the channel had sought more time through a letter on February 25.
The Speaker's announcement, however, evoked sharp reaction from members with Leader of the Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya questioning the decision and terming it as "an interference in the functioning of the legislature".
Maurya said the channel which had sought time till today to appear before the House went back on its words. "How can the judiciary give stay (order) when no punishment has been awarded," he asked.

BJP leader Suresh Kumar Khanna, who disassociated himself from the views of Maurya, suggested that legal advise should be taken before taking further action.

Congress leader Pradeep Mathur and Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Dalbir Singh supported Maurya's contention.
Azam Khan, against whom the sting was aired in 2013, thanked members for their support but said that he was ready to withdraw his complaint if the House deems it is not legally fit to be challenged in the Supreme Court.
"The intervention of the SC in the case is unfortunate and I would prefer to commit suicide if I am found guilty in the sting operation," he said.

Citing the JNU incident, Khan said, "a news channel circulated videos and other things but now it has been cleared that everything was doctored."
The Supreme Court today stayed the proceedings initiated by the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly on a privilege notice against editorial management and journalists of two channels belonging to TV Today group in connection with a sting operation on Muzaffarnagar riots.