BJD member protests PM’s reference to MPs as ‘maal’ in speech in House – Times of India

NEW DELHI: BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sulata Deo on Monday protested PM Narendra Modi’s remark on Saturday in the Lok Sabha that Atal Bihari Vajpayee preferred to resign than buy the support of MPs which could be garnered for a price. Deo said the PM’s description of MPs as ‘maal’ was unacceptable and could lower them in popular esteem.
The Upper House also saw a brief face off between Deo and her former BJD colleague Sujit Kumar who recently joined BJP and was elected to Rajya Sabha when the BJD MP alleged that those who are “saleable are sold in the market”.
Kumar, who took oath as BJP MP on Monday, raised a point of order seeking indulgence of the Chair to direct Deo to prove the charge.
PM Modi had while speaking in LS referred to the bribery scandals during no-trust votes against Congress govts led by Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh and said Vajpayee refrained from going down the same road, eventually losing the trial of strength by a solitary vote.
Participating in the discussion on 75 years of Indian Constitution, Deo referred to Modi’s remark in the Lower House where he said a game was on to destabilise Vajpayee govt in 1998 and there was voting. “Buying and selling was possible then. Bazaar mein maal tab bhi bikta tha (buying and selling was possible at that time as well). But because of the commitment to the values of the Constitution the Vajpayee govt preferred losing election for one vote and resigned, but did not do any unconstitutional thing. This is our history, culture and tradition,” PM had said.
Deo said she and all MPs have serious objections to the use of the term ‘maal’. “We are MPs. We respected Atalji because he treated us as MPs. I also have an objection to the very mention of buying and selling. It’s not acceptable to us and I am hurt. Today you (BJP) are inducting a member who resigned from our party. As you have said only sellable items are sold (maal wahi hai jo bikta hai). We will not be sold,” the MP said.
The BJD MP also questioned why the President, who comes from Odisha, has so far not spoken on Manipur, Sambhal and atrocities against women in Odisha.