MPs seek breach of privilege proceedings against VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi

New Delhi, Aug 7: Opposition MPs today sought breach of privilege proceedings against VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi for her controversial "terrorists in Parliament" remarks and gave a notice to Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari in this regard.

Senior parliamentarians from Rajya Sabha including Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury and TRS member K Keshav Rao were among 20 members who gave the privilege notice against the VHP leader saying her remarks had "violated the dignity" of Parliament and the privilege of MPs.

Congress Deputy Leader in House Anand Sharma, Ambika Soni, CPI's D Raja, Samajwadi Party member Neeraj Shekhar, CPI-M's Tapan Sen and JDU's KC Tyagi were the other signatories to the petition urging the Chair to initiate proceedings against Prachi for breach of privilege.

Prachi is known for issuing controversial statements, much to the discomfiture of BJP leadership.

Speaking on the opposition to the hanging of 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon, she was yesterday quoted as saying, "It is a big misfortune that in Indian Parliament, we have one-two terrorists sitting there".

"When the court has already proved so, those supporting the terrorist are terrorists themselves I believe," she had said.

Opposition parties had expressed outrage at the remarks. Tyagi said that members were "hurt" by Prachi's remarks and an attempt was also made to raise the issue in Rajya Sabha today.

"We have given a notice to the Rajya Sabha Chairman requesting him to initiate privilege proceedings against Prachi," he said.

PTI