'Regime of autocracy and dictatorship': TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee on row over 'unparliamentary' words
India Today
TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee joined the list of opposition leaders criticising the ‘gag order’ on the usage of certain words in Parliament.
The Trinamool Congress has hit out at the BJP on the “gag order” over the use of certain words in Parliament, alleging that the BJP's regime is autocratic and dictatorial.
TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee questioned the need for convening a Parliament session if the opposition is not allowed to express their views.
"Is corrupt an unparliamentary word? They want to dictate what we say and what we wear. It is a regime of autocracy and dictatorship," he said.
His remark came amid a controversy over the publication of a booklet by the Lok Sabha Secretariat that listed words such as ‘ashamed’, ‘jumlajeevi’, ‘taanashah’, ‘abused’, ‘betrayed’, ‘corrupt’, ‘drama’, ‘hypocrisy’ and ‘incompetent’ as unparliamentary expressions.
However, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla clarified that no word has been banned from use in Parliament, and members are free to express their views while maintaining the decorum of the House.
READ | Gag order or routine? Centre vs Opposition over words banned in Parliament
On the National Emblem row, Banerjee said the President of the country should have inaugurated the national emblem atop the new Parliament building and not the prime minister.