Asserting his right to question the government on Manipur's troubling situation, Mr. O'Brien demands his entire speech be put on record, sparking a debate over free speech and transparency in Parliament."
In a bid to uphold democratic principles, TMC MP Derek O'Brien has taken a stand against the expunging of his speech in the Rajya Sabha on July 20. Mr. O'Brien has written to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, demanding that his entire speech be put on record, as he believes he "rightfully" questioned the government on the troubling situation in Manipur.
Parts of his speech were expunged by the Presiding Officer's discretion, prompting Mr. O'Brien to assert that his words were well within the bounds of parliamentary decorum. As a leader of one of the largest opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha, he sought to address the alarming law and order situation in Manipur and raise pertinent questions to the Prime Minister and the ruling government.
Highlighting the issue of words being deemed "unparliamentary," Mr. O'Brien pointed out that a previous booklet issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat listed words such as ashamed,abused, betrayed, corrupt, drama, hypocrisy, and incompetent as objectionable. He argued that these words have been commonly used by the opposition to describe the Union government and their inclusion in the list appears to stifle criticism, as PTI reported.
The TMC MP expressed concern over the potential impact of such restrictions on free speech and democracy, emphasizing that it could silence opposition voices and curtail the right to express legitimate concerns. He called for a fair and transparent process, urging the Chairman to ensure his full speech is recorded and not subject to selective expunging.
The situation in Manipur has become a contentious issue during the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament, leading to a critical debate between the opposition and the government.