Amid controversy over a parliamentary bulletin on holding of dharnas and protests in the Parliament precinct, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asked the political parties not to make allegations without knowing facts.
He also mentioned that such bulletins are routine and circulated for many years.
Reacting sharply to the Opposition’s remarks on the bulletin, Birla said, “No circular has been issued in the Lok Sabha, but it’s a process that has been continuing since 2009 and even before that.”
“I urge political parties not to make such allegations without facts,” he added.
The Lok Sabha Speaker’s comments have come in the wake of the Opposition’s criticism of the circular issued by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat which said “Members cannot use the precincts of the Parliament House for any demonstration, dharna, strike, fast, or for the purpose of performing any religious ceremony.”
Congress general secretary and chief whip of the party in Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh took to Twitter to attack the government.
“Vishguru’s latest salvo – D(h)arna Mana Hai!,” he said, sharing a copy of the circular issued on July 14.
Opposition members have in the past demonstrated inside Parliament complex and have also staged protests and fasts outside Mahatma Gandhi’s statue inside the complex.
