Rahul Gandhi asked to respond to contempt notice over remarks on PM Modi

BJP's Nishikant Dubey and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi have filed a complaint alleging breach of privilege by the Congress MP.

New Delhi, Feb 12: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been asked by the Lok Sabha secretariat to respond on contempt notice given by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey over the former's remarks in Lok Sabha on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Lok Sabha Secretariat seeks reply from Cong MP Rahul Gandhi on Breach of Privilege notice given by BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and Pralhad Joshi against Gandhi for making "misleading, derogatory, unparliamentary&incriminatory statement during discussion on President's address on Feb 7," ANI reported.

BJP's Nishikant Dubey and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi have filed a complaint alleging breach of privilege by the Congress MP.

In a letter to Speaker Om Birla, Dubey accused Rahul Gandhi of violating rules by "misleading the house" by making comments against PM Modi without "documentary evidence".

"While participating in the debate on Motion of Thanks to the President's Address in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, MP made certain unverified, incriminatory and defamatory statements... against Prime Minister without giving advance notice," Dubey wrote in his letter.

"These statements are misleading, derogatory, indecent, unparliamentary, undignified and incriminatory in nature to the dignity of the House and Hon'ble Prime Minister being a Member of Lok Sabha," he said.

"Rahul Gandhi... has not submitted any duly authenticated document for supporting his statements. As such, he has made a statement which amounts to misleading of the House in the absence of any documentary evidence," Dubey wrote.

"This conduct is in clear violation of privileges of the House and its members, besides being a clear case of contempt of the House. I request you to please take immediate action against Shri Rahul Gandhi for breach of privilege and contempt of House," he added.

Speaking in Parliament, Gandhi had accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of helping and doling out favours to Adani.

The Congress leader alleged that the meteoric rise in Gautam Adani's fortunes happened after the BJP came to power in 201 and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi deserves a gold medal for this. He even accused the government of changing its foreign policy to benefit the billionaire.

Adani Group is in the spotlight after the US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research report accused the group of brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud.