[ad_1]
New Delhi:
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who heads the parliamentary panel on data expertise, has given a discover for breach of privilege in opposition to BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, alleging that he made “disparaging remarks” on social media over his determination to summon a panel assembly to debate alleged “misconduct” of Facebook.
In his letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Mr Tharoor took robust objection to Mr Dubey’s remarks on Twitter that “the Chairman of Standing Committee does not have the authority to do anything without discussion of the agenda with its members.”
Mr Tharoor mentioned Nishikant Dubey accused him of championing his political get together’s “agenda without authorisation by the Committee and Speaker”.
Mr Dubey’s remarks got here after Shashi Tharoor had mentioned on Sunday that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology want to hear from Facebook a couple of media report on its conduct and what it proposes to do about hate-speech in India.
Anguished over “disparaging” remarks made by Mr Dubey in opposition to his determination to name a gathering of the panel, Shashi Tharoor mentioned it amounted to breach of privilege of his place as an MP and Chairman of the standing committee.
“The matter pertains to the disparaging remarks made by Mr Dubey on a social media platform regarding my decision to summon a Committee meeting to discuss the alleged misconduct of Facebook and seek clarity on the measures that it intends to undertake to curb the spread of hate speech and fake news,” Mr Tharoor mentioned.
“Nishikant Dubey’s derogatory remarks have not only brought disrepute to my position as a Member of Parliament and Chairman but also to an institution that mirrors the will of the people of our country,” Mr Tharoor alleged within the letter, a replica of which was additionally marked to Sunil Kumar Singh, chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Privileges, Lok Sabha.
Shashi Tharoor urged Speaker Om Birla to subject mandatory instructions to provoke proceedings in opposition to Mr Dubey for “committing a breach of privilege on multiple accounts and contempt of the House”.
“I sincerely hope that stringent action is taken in this matter so that it serves as a deterrent to the occurrence of similar incidents in future and restores public trust in Parliament,” the MP from Thiruvananthapuram mentioned within the letter dated August 18.
Meanwhile, tagging a tweet on a media report concerning the guidelines and functioning of committees, Mr Dubey on Wednesday tweeted, “In the last 11 years as an MP, I have neither violated any rules nor would I let anyone violate or abuse their power for their parties personal vendetta with agenda.”
Referring to the not too long ago printed information report within the Wall Street Journal which claimed that Facebook refused to use hate speech guidelines to sure ruling get together politicians, Tharoor within the letter underlined the intense nature of allegations made in opposition to the social media platform and its far-reaching implications on the residents’ Right to Information.
Mr Tharoor mentioned he sought to convene the Committee assembly as a part of the conventional course of discussions on “safeguarding citizens” rights and prevention of misuse of social/online news media platforms”.
The subject or agenda of the assembly “not only features on the list of subjects earmarked at the beginning of the year for the Committee”s deliberations but also was finalised by the members of the Committee at our first meeting, and bulletinised with your consent,” the Congress chief mentioned.
Despite this, Mr Tharoor alleged Mr Dubey “insultingly criticised” his determination to take action.
Shashi Tharoor alleged that Nishikant Dubey’s remarks amounted to a three-fold breach of privilege.
“The contemptuous words used by…Dubey have cast aspersions on the intent and integrity with which I fulfil my duties as an elected representative…,” he mentioned.
Such phrases represent unwarranted vilification of the Committee’s title and the way through which it discharges its capabilities, Mr Tharoor alleged.
“His actions have painted an ignominious picture of the revered institution of Parliament by indicating that its functionaries have circumvented the process that they are expected to follow,” he mentioned.
Citing guidelines and procedures of Parliament, Mr Tharoor reiterated that the topic of the assembly had been unanimously authorized by the committee members, Speaker’s and Lok Sabha secretary basic’s places of work and thereafter it was positioned in public area by publication within the bulletin.
“Therefore, to claim that the chairman has acted in excess of his authority to convene a meeting on a pre-approved agenda, and has proceeded without seeking the necessary approvals, is tantamount to contempt of the due procedure followed by the House,” Mr Tharoor mentioned.
A Twitter duel had erupted between Nishikant Dubey and Opposition MPs Shashi Tharoor and Mahua Moitra (TMC) over the prospect of the panel looking for views of Facebook on the WSJ report.
In the report printed on Friday, US newspaper Wall Street Journal cited interviews with unnamed Facebook insiders to say that one among its senior India coverage executives intervened in inner communication to cease a everlasting ban on a BJP MLA from Telangana after he allegedly made communally charged posts.
Reacting to the controversy, Facebook on Monday mentioned the corporate’s social media platform prohibits hate speech and content material that incites violence, including these insurance policies are enforced globally with out regard to political affiliation.
“While we know there is more to do, we’re making progress on enforcement and conduct regular audits of our process to ensure fairness and accuracy,” a Facebook spokesperson mentioned.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
[ad_2]
Source hyperlink