‘Serious’: LS Speaker to look into Kakoli Ghosh complaint against Kalyan Banerjee
New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will look into the allegations levelled by Trinamool Congress lawmaker Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar's against fellow TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, people familiar with the matter said.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar (Sansad TV/ANI Video Grab)According to a senior functionary, the Speaker is expected to look into the issue before deciding whether to refer it to the Lok Sabha's privileges panel.
"We have received a one-page letter from TMC MP Dastidar. The Lok Sabha Speaker will look into the issue. He will decide whether to refer the issue directly to the privileges committee or first seek a response from both sides," said a senior functionary.
At least three functionaries added that, given the serious nature of the allegations, the Lok Sabha Speaker will look into it with due sensitivity.
"During every session, many MPs lodge political allegations against each other. Those issues are handled by the Speaker in his own way. But this is a serious matter," said a second functionary.
The file on Dastidar's letter, in which she had allegedly accused party colleague Kalyan Banerjee of misogyny and repeated verbal abuse, is currently with the Lok Sabha secretary general's office.
Both Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and secretary general Utpal Kumar Singh is out of station. Both of them are expected to be in Delhi on Monday.
Since a senior woman lawmaker has sought the Speaker's permission to lodge serious allegations, the issue can be sent to a House panel.
On Thursday, Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) rebel lawmaker Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar sought Birla’s permission to file a complaint
Ghosh Dastidar, in a letter to Birla, alleged that Banerjee has “repeatedly verbally abused” her inside the Lok Sabha chamber. She added: “This misogyny has been against many women members and needs to be punished.”
Banerjee questioned Dastidar's complaint. “After something happens on the floor, the Speaker must be informed immediately, that is the rule. Any incident must be reported to the Speaker without delay. As for the allegations being made, the question is who said what and when. The problem lies in their intentions. It seems they are acting with a motive, which raises my doubts," he said.
Saubhadra Chatterji is Deputy Political Editor at the Hindustan Times. He writes on both politics and policies.
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