From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Opposition on Thursday slammed a “gag order” issued by the Lok Sabha in a booklet on “unparliamentary words” released ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament beginning on Monday, apparently to provide a protective cover to Prime Minister Modi from verbal attacks on him.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi described it as a “New Dictionary for New India.” In a tweet, he said “unparliamentary” have been declared “words used in discussions and debates which correctly describe the PM’s handling of the government, now banned from being spoken.”
“Example of an unparliamentary sentence: Jumlajeevi Tanashah shed crocodile tears when his lies and incompetence were exposed,” he added.
A large number of words so banned include “jumlajeevi”, “Covid spreader”,”snoopgate”, “anarchist”, “Shakuni”, “tanashah”, “tanashahi”, “Vinash Purush”, “Khalistani”, “khoon se kheti”, “dictatorial”, “Nikamma”, “behri sarkar”, “Nautanki”, and “Dohra Charitra.”
Though the booklet is issued by the Lok Sabha secretariat, its officials say it will also apply to the Rajya Sabha.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha also took a potshot at the ruling dispensation and said it is “disappointing” to see a “gag order” on words used by the Opposition to criticise the Central government.
“It’s heartening that Govt of India knows adjectives that accurately describe their performance while it’s extremely disappointing that a gag order has been issued on parliamentarians and all those words that Opposition used to criticise the govt,” Raghav Chadha said.
Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien said he will continue to use these banned words in Parliament. He tweeted, “Session begins in a few days. GAG ORDER ISSUED ON MPs.”
“Now, we will not be allowed to use these basic words while delivering a speech in #Parliament : Ashamed. Abused. Betrayed. Corrupt. Hypocrisy. Incompetent. I will use all these words. Suspend me. Fighting for democracy,” the TMC leader wrote.
As the opposition outrage grows, the government sources told a news agency that the list “does not contain new suggestions”, but only a compilation of words “already expunged” in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha or state legislatures.
