In apparent fresh trouble for Union human resource development minister Smriti Irani, a parliamentary panel examining CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury’s privilege motion against her, on Wednesday decide
In apparent fresh trouble for Union human resource development minister Smriti Irani, a parliamentary panel examining CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury’s privilege motion against her, on Wednesday decided to seek an explanation from her over her remarks made during a Rajya Sabha debate on the JNU row and dalit scholar Rohith Vemula’s suicide. The committee, headed by senior Congress leader P.J. Kurien, is also likely to seek the Delhi police’s help to tighten Mr Yechury’s security in the wake of threatening calls he had been receiving.
With Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari admitting the privilege motion against Ms Irani, the committee is likely to seek a written response from the minister first. Sources stated that the House committee could also summon and question Ms Irani.
“The committee has decided to seek an explanation from the Union minister on why did she make a reference to goddess Durga during the debate and why she made some remarks quoting Ms Yechury, which he has denied having said,” sources stated.
“It has also decided to direct the police for immediate action to pin down those who issues threats to the CPI (M) leader. The committee has also suggested that Mr Yechury should be given proper security and will write to the Delhi police in this regard,” sources said.
Mr Ansari had recently sent Mr Yechury’s privilege motion against Ms Irani to the committee of privileges. The privilege motion against the Union minister was moved for making alleged “baseless allegations” against the CPI(M) leader during her debate on the JNU row and Central Hyderabad University scholar Rohith Vemula’s suicide.
