Members in both Houses of Parliament have given Privilege notices against actor Om Puri and civil rights activist Kiran Bedi for using derogatory and defamatory language against politicians and the matter is under consideration of the Chair. Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Monday informed the House that notices for moving a Privilege Motion against Puri and Bedi have been received and the matter is under my consideration. During Anna Hazare's agitation at Ramlila grounds on the Lokpal issue, Puri and Bedi had allegedly targeted politicians and reportedly used derogatory and defamatory language against them. In the Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan told agitated members that the privilege notices given are under consideration of the Chairman. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Upper House, Ramgopal Yadav said that the film actor dubbed Parliamentarians as “thieves” and “incompetent” while speaking from the stage of Hazare on 26th August. He said, such statements by the actor is a privilege of MPs and requested the Chair to refer his notice to the Privilege Committee amid thumping of desks by members from all parties. Om Puri has, however, regretted making these remarks and said, the choice of words was inappropriate. The actor said, he should have used appropriate language for description of the political class. Bedi also has said that her action on Friday mocking the MPs went against her grain but she did not mean to hurt anybody.
News On AIR | August 29, 2011 8:07 PM
Privilege notices against actor Om Puri and civil rights activist Kiran Bedi