Text of the Letter Addressed by Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) Leader in the Rajya Sabha dated September 15, 2010 Breach of Privilege by M/s. Mamata Banerjee
The Chairman
Rajya Sabha
Hon'ble Chairman Sir,
I wish to raise a question involving a breach of privilege of the Council.
On the last day of the Monsoon Session, August 31, 2010, in response to questions raised by some honourable members, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal made a statement just before the House was declared adjourned sine die by you.
The statement is recorded in the proceedings as "Re. clarification on speech of Km. Mamata Banerjee at a political rally at Lalgarh".
There are two assertions in this statement which constitute a gross misrepresentation of facts. This is tantamount to misleading the House.
The statement asserts : "Sir, that rally was organized by a forum called Forum of Citizens against Violence". The permission for the said rally was sought by one Shri Pranab Basu, President, Paschim Mednipur District Trinamul Congress Committee through a letter addressed to the District Magistratte on July 23, 2010. The said permission was granted by Shri Narayan Swaroop Nigam, IAS on August 3, 2010, through a letter, No. 773-DM, addressed to Shri Pranab Basu, President, Paschim Mednipur District Trinamul Congress Committee. Copies of both the letters are enclosed for your kind perusal.
Given these facts, the statement made by the Minister in the House is patently false and hence misleading.
Secondly, the statement asserts that, "Kumari Mamata Banerjee has clarified that she addressed that rally in her capacity as the leader of the Trinamul Congress." The formal letter seeking permission for holding the said rally states as its subject: "Permission for holding a public meeting at Lalgarh High School ground on 9th August '10 from 12 noon by honourable Railway Minister, Government of India, Smt. Mamata Banerjee". The enclosed copy of the letter confirms this. Given this fact, the Minister's statement to the House, once again, is both false and misleading.
Further, the national media has reported that the Railway Ministry had ordered the deployment of the Railways Protection Force at the venue. A copy of a report that appeared in a prominent national daily is enclosed. The Railway Ministry has not contradicted the information given in this report. Surely, a Minister of the Union Cabinet, addressing a political meeting in her personal capacity as the leader of a political party, cannot order the deployment of the RPF.
I am seeking your intervention in the matter to protect the dignity of the Council and the rights of its members. Surely, such a gross misrepresentation of facts tantamount to misleading the House should attract the attention of Rule 187 raising a question involving a breach of privilege of the Council and its members.
Surely, you would agree that the dignity and sanctity of the Council cannot be allowed to be so severely breached by statements by the members of the Union Council of Ministers which misrepresent facts and mislead the Council.
I, once again, request you to pay heed to this matter and protect the dignity of the Council and the rights of its members.
