To begin with, jumlajeevi, baal buddhi, Covid spreader and Snoopgate have joined everyday expressions like ‘ashamed’, ‘abused, ‘betrayed’, ‘corrupt’, ‘drama’, ‘hypocrisy’ and ‘incompetent’ in a list of words deemed unfit for parliament ahead of a new session starting Monday.
Opposition parties protests and say it will impede their ability to critique the Government
Meanwhile, triggering instant protests from opposition lawmakers who say it will impede their ability to critique the government, the Lok Sabha secretariat has issued a new booklet listing unparliamentary words for both houses. The booklet, that comes ahead of the Monsoon session beginning Monday, says words like anarchist, Shakuni, dictatorial, taanashah, taanashahi, Jaichand, vinash purush, Khalistani and khoon se kheti would also be expunged if used during debates or otherwise. Dohra charitra, nikamma, nautanki, dhindora peetna and behri sarkar will also face the same treatment.
Trinamool’s Derek O’Brien protests and challenges that he would still continue the usage of the words
However, the Rajya Sabha Chairman and the Lok Sabha Speaker will have the last word in expunging words and expressions. The move sparked outrage in the opposition, with Trinamool’s Derek O’Brien throwing an open challenge, saying he would continue to use the words. Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra tweeted, “You mean I can’t stand up in Lok Sabha & talk of how Indians have been betrayed by an incompetent government who should be ashamed of their hypocrisy?”
Moreover, the criticism was countered in a statement issued to the media via “government sources”. “Today, the opposition has created a lot of hue and cry about the compilation of unparliamentary words in the parliament. But what is amusing is that they have tried to create a storm without knowing the facts. This list is brought out every year,” it said.
Subsequently, the list is not a new suggestion, but merely a compilation of words already expunged in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, or state legislatures. It also contains a list of words considered unparliamentary in parliaments of Commonwealth countries,” it added.
Furthermore, “most of these words were considered unparliamentary even during the UPA government. The booklet is a mere compilation of the words, not suggestions or order,” the statement said, listing a few terms that were taken off in opposition-ruled states and other countries.
