Jayanthi approaches Privilege panel against Azmi

New Delhi, May 6 (UNI) Congress MP Jayanthi Natarajan today gave a notice of privilege against Samajwadi Party member Abu Azmi alleging that he manhandled her during the fracas over the introduction of the Women's Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha.

"While Law Minister H R Bhardwaj was introducing the Bill, Mr Azmi moved towards him and pushed aside various Ministers and also pushing and manhandling me and other women members," she complained in a letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman Mohammad Ansari.

Describing as "unprecedented, unwarranted and condemnable" the behaviour of Mr Azmi, she requested the Rajya Sabha Chairman to refer her complaint to the House Privileges Committee for necessary action.

"Mr Azmi pushed and shoved me physically in his attempt to atack the Law Minister," Ms Natarajan said, while regretting that the behaviour of Mr Azmi had brought ''great dishonour'' and shame to the Rajya Sabha.

"Never in the history of democracy, have members of the Rajya Sabha pushed and manhandled other members, particularly women, in an attempt to intimidate the House and the Minsiter," Ms Natarajan, who is also a Spokesperson of the Congress, said.

She said the behaviour of Mr Azmi had violated all norms of civilised and appropriate conduct, and had brought the House into grave disrepute. "This is not the way to show dissent," Ms Natarajan said.

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