Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha on Thursday lashed out at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for attempting to “suppress” his voice over 'forged signatures' allegations by five Rajya Sabha MPs. He challenged the BJP to show him the paper claiming the forged signatures.
The AAP leader said that he will approach the panel and court on the matter.
While addressing a press conference, Chadha said that false propaganda was being spread that signatures and written consent are needed for nomination of Select Committee members in Rajya Sabha.
“The Rajya Sabha rule book states that no signature or written consent of a member, whose name has been proposed for the select committee, is required,” he said.
"I will approach the Committee of Privileges and court of law against the BJP Lok Sabha members who levelled the false allegation of forgery against me," Chadha said.
"Whenever the Committee of Privileges begins proceedings against someone, they don't give public statements. But it was out of compulsion that I have to speak up. But I won't speak against the Hon'ble Chair or the Committee of Privileges," the AAP leader said.
"I challenge the BJP to show the papers that has forged signatures as alleged by them. The Parliamentary Bulletin on complaints against me has no mention of forgery, fake signatures," Chadha said.
Five Rajya Sabha MPs alleged that Chadha added their names to the proposed panel without taking their consent.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday referred the matter to the Privileges Committee to examine and investigate.
"On consideration of the facts, the Hon'ble Chairman, Rajya Sabha has referred the matter under Rule 203 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) to the Committee of Privileges for examination, investigation and report," a Rajya Sabha bulletin read.
Chadha had proposed a Select Committee to examine the Delhi Services Bill. The BJP has accused Chadha of forging signatures of five MPs in the motion to send the Delhi Services Bill to a Select Committee.
The five Rajya Sabha members who have raised complaints are S. Phangnon Konyak, Narhari Amin and Sudhanshu Trivedi of BJP, AIADMK's M. Thambidurai and BJD's Sasmit Patra.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah called it a 'breach of privilege of the House' and accused the AAP of committing fraud in parliamentary proceedings.
(With PTI inputs)
