Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar has rejected a privilege motion against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, stating that there was no "transgression" in his remarks regarding the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
The motion had been filed by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who accused Shah of making misleading statements during a debate on the Disaster Management Bill, 2024.
Dhankhar dismissed the notice on Thursday after Shah presented a government press release from 24 January 1948 to authenticate his claim.
The release, issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), outlined the formation of the PMNRF under then-Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
It stated that the President of the Indian National Congress was part of the fund's management, reinforcing Shah’s assertion.
Congress Alleges Defamation
Ramesh had moved the notice against Shah, alleging that the minister had "cast aspersions" on Congress Parliamentary Party leader Sonia Gandhi.
He claimed that Shah’s remarks suggested Congress had exercised undue influence over national affairs and that they were "blatantly false and defamatory."
Shah had previously commented that during Congress rule, "one family used to control the country," implying that the party had wielded significant power over government institutions, including the PMNRF.
Ramesh argued that this statement unfairly targeted Sonia Gandhi and sought to malign her reputation.
Dhankhar Defends Shah's Statements
In his ruling, Dhankhar maintained that Shah had made his statement in "absolute adherence to truth" and had backed it with historical documents. He criticised the use of privilege motions for "media traction" and dismissed Ramesh’s allegations as unfounded.
He also expressed concern over the increasing misuse of privilege motions in parliamentary proceedings, urging lawmakers to exercise restraint.
He cited a 1998 report by the Ethics Committee, led by SB Chauhan, which emphasised the need to uphold the dignity of Parliament.
Ethics Committee Tasked with Reviewing Conduct
Dhankhar has now directed the Ethics Committee to examine evolving circumstances, particularly in light of technological and social media developments, and draft fresh guidelines for MPs’ conduct.
He stressed that parliamentary privilege should not be invoked frivolously, as it risks undermining the credibility of legislative institutions.
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