Author: TNN
Publication: The Times of India
Date: September 3, 2013
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Who-ordered-deletion-of-Jaitleys-comments-BJP-asks/articleshow/22242457.cms

The BJP on Monday strongly protested against the puzzling expunction of certain remarks critical of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from leader of opposition Arun Jaitley's speech during the state of economy debate last Friday.

 The remarks had played on TV channels through the day before news agencies and media outlets were informed that they had been deleted from the day's proceedings.

 As the House assembled, senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said, "On Friday, reporters and news channels were called by the Rajya Sabha secretariat to drop certain portions of the speech by the leader of opposition. Later, some portions of PM's speech were also expunged. We want to know who gave the order. A political debate took place in the Rajya Sabha." Naidu was joined by BJP's deputy leader Ravi Shankar Prasad and senior MP Najma Heptulla.

 Chairperson Hamid Ansari said, "I will check the records and take necessary decision." But Naidu and others were not satisfied. Ansari said, "We cannot discuss the working of Rajya Sabha secretariat in the House." Naidu said, "Even I don't their working to be discussed. But we should know who decided to expunge the remarks."

 Heptulla, who was deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha for long, said the standard process is that the speech is shown to the chairperson and he decides on expunction. "Wherever the speech is to be expunged it is done under the signature of the chairperson. We would like to know if the process was followed?" Heptulla asked. Ansari reiterated that he will check the records.