BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, who had triggered huge protests from the Congress camp on Wednesday, after he dragged party president Sonia Gandhi in the Augusta West land helicopter scam, today again made some remarks in Rajya Sabha after which the Chair immediately expunged him and warned him of action for “unnecessary provocation”.
Expunging Swamy’s reference to the Constitution of another country that triggered vociferous protests from Congress members, Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien also ordered media not to report the remarks.
Swamy, who was recently nominated into the Rajya Sabha, made the remarks after Chaudhary Munavver Saleem (SP) while speaking during a Zero Hour mention referred to Swamy being part of the movement in 1970s to protect the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) after which Swamy got up and clarified that he had no objection to minority education institutions but the Constitution prohibits the state from financing them.
He was countered on this by the opposition to which he responded by dragging the name of another country, a reference that led to agitated Congress members rushing into the Well.
After this, Kurien said he was expunging the reference to the Constitution of another country but that did not satisfy the Congress members who continued to shout slogans against Swamy.
Swamy, on his part, insisted that since his name has been taken by another member, he has a right to reply and again went on to refer to the country, drawing sharp rebuke from the Chair.
“I will take action against you. Subramanian Swamy you are unnecessarily provoking. I will have to take action against you… you are provoking,” Kurien said.
Observing that what Swamy said would not go on record, he said “what has been expunged should not be reported by media.”
Congress members sought action against Swamy with Jairam Ramesh saying he was “needling and provoking” by bringing in reference to another country. With Congress members continuing to protest, Kurien asked them to return to their seats and said it was a deliberate attempt to subvert the Zero Hour.
Asked by the Chair what the problem was when the remarks have been expunged, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said “the problem is the new gift of BJP. Problem is not on this side.”
He said Swamy is just two days old in the House and his remarks have already been expunged twice. “There are 365 days in a year, how many times are you going to expunge his words,” he asked the Chair.