Temple of Democracy Echoes with Hate Speech

The special parliament session called by the Modi government was supposed to end on 22nd September; celebrating the women’s reservation bill and the inauguration of the session in the new building by the members of both houses. However, the session ended with the unparliamentary and hate-filled words of a BJP MP-Ramesh Bidhuri. The remark of the BJP MP came into the limelight on 22nd September, while it was made on 21st September 2023 to another sitting MP Kunwar Danish Ali of BSP.

He called Danish Ali “Mullah Atankwadi” (Muslim terrorist), “Bharwa” (pimp), “Katwa” (circumcised), and “Mullah Ugrawadi” on record. The chair at the time(10:54 pm) was headed by Kodikunnil Suresh; the statement was expunged later. A notice has already been issued to the BJP member, by the BJP on the directions of JP Nadda. The BSP MP has written to the Lok Sabha speaker, Om Birla and has said that he is confident that the speaker will take cognizance and will take action; as this kind of language is used for the first time in Lok Sabha.

Such derogatory speech and unruly behaviour are usually followed by suspension on the orders of the chair; as seen in the case of AAP member of Rajya Sabha, Sanjay Singh and TMC representative Derek Oberoi. This low was earlier seen when the TMC MP Mahua Moitra; uttered the word “Harami” on 7th February 2023, later defending the remark when it was expunged.

As per the rules, no action can be taken for such unparliamentary actions as the MP’s are protected for the speech given inside the house. Another remedy can be a privilege motion moved by Danish Ali.

Earlier the Supreme Court of India had established an SOP to be followed in the case of hate speech, when multiple PILs were filed in the apex court. Similar to this, remarks by the DMK office bearers and particularly Udhayanidhi Stalin against Sanatana Dharma created an uproar; leading to the filing of multiple FIRs in northern states. Now a notice has been issued to the Stalin junior and the TN government by the top court. The I.N.D.I.A’s members have already distanced themselves from this statement.

The delay in the registration of FIR’s and hesitation to act on their own party members on both the sides of the political divide has vitiated the minds and the atmosphere of the country. To avoid such low in public discourse, the lower and the upper courts of the country should play an active role to direct the police administration to act in a bipartisan manner.