Rajya Sabha Chairman sends privilege notice against Kharge over PM remarks to committee

Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan has referred a notice filed against Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to the House's Committee of Privileges. The notice, submitted by six Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs, accuses the Congress president of using derogatory language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an election rally in Tamil Nadu.

The MPs—Brij Lal, Mithlesh Kumar, Sumitra Balmik, Shivesh Kumar, Dr. Sikander Kumar, and Nagendra Ray—moved the notice under Rule 188 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States towards the end of the Budget Session in April. Rule 188 allows any member to raise a question of privilege with the consent of the Chairman.

The notice alleges that Kharge, while addressing a poll event in Chennai ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, called the Prime Minister "a terrorist" who "did not believe in equality and justice." The MPs contend that such remarks are "continual and deliberate," "grossly derogatory, disparaging and highly disrespectful," and that they lower "the dignity of the Parliament and its Members."

Privilege motions are parliamentary mechanisms to examine whether a member has breached the code of conduct or brought disrepute to the institution. If the Committee of Privileges finds merit in the complaint, it can recommend sanctions, which may include admonition, suspension, or even expulsion from the House, subject to approval by the Rajya Sabha.

This is not the first time the remarks have drawn official scrutiny. During the election campaign, the BJP also approached the Election Commission of India with a complaint against Kharge, alleging violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The Election Commission's stand on that complaint remains inconclusive.

The referral places the matter before a committee chaired by a senior member of the Rajya Sabha, which will examine all evidence and hear the parties involved. The committee operates on the principle of natural justice, providing both the complainant and the respondent an opportunity to present their case. Its proceedings are usually held in camera.

Political circles have reacted to the development, with BJP leaders asserting that such language has no place in public discourse and undermines the stature of constitutional offices. Congress spokespersons have yet to issue a formal statement on the referral, but during the campaign, Kharge's party maintained that his words were taken out of context and were a forceful critique of the Prime Minister's policies rather than a personal attack.

The Committee of Privileges is expected to take up the matter in its forthcoming sittings. Its report, once tabled in the House, will determine the next course of action. Parliamentary experts note that while strong political exchanges are common, the committee draws a line when statements are seen to breach parliamentary decorum or insult high offices.

This episode underscores the ongoing debate over the boundaries of political speech in India, especially during electoral battles. As the committee deliberates, it will have to balance the freedom of expression of an opposition leader with the need to protect the dignity of the Prime Minister's office and parliamentary institutions.