Rajya Sabha Chair expunges Modi’s comments

New Delhi: In a rare move, the remarks of a Prime Minister have been expunged by the Chair in Rajya Sabha. Chairman of the Upper House M. Venkaiah Naidu on Friday expunged certain remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the House that were found to be “objectionable”.

Rajya Sabha Secretariat sources stated that the remarks made by the Prime Minister while referring to the Opposition’s candidate B.K. Hariprasad for the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman were expunged after some members made a demand in his regard.

Mr Naidu had on Thursday said in the House that he would look into the remarks and see if there was something objectionable.

The remarks were made by the prime minister while felicitating newly-elected Raj-ya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh in the House on Thursday. Remarks made by the Prime Minister are rarely expunged. Mr Hariprasad said it was unfortunate that the Prime Minister had lowered the dignity of the House. The chairman also expunged a word uttered by Union minister Ramdas Athawale during the felicitations.