NEW DELHI: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey called Thursday for stripping Rahul Gandhi of his Lok Sabha membership and urged Speaker Om Birla to form a parliamentary inquiry committee to act against him for his alleged attempts to “destabilise the country”, marking a major escalation of aggression from the governing alliance against the leader of the opposition.Dubey has sought a “substantive motion” against Gandhi, linking his frequent visits to his alleged connections with “foreign forces working against India” and his reference to Gen Naravane’s unpublished memoir. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey raised the issue in Lok Sabha as well, igniting massive protests from the opposition benches, and sought action against Rahul Gandhi under Rules 352(5) and 353. “He (Rahul) behaves like an urban Naxal. He targets constitutional institutions like Election Commission, Supreme Court, LS Speaker Om Birla,” Dubey alleged, adding, he should be expelled and barred from fighting elections.While 352(5) covers the “conduct of persons in high authority”, understood to be those holding constitutional positions enjoying a certain autonomy and no direct accountability to the govt, 353 refers to ministers and MPs.The few cases of “substantive motions” being invoked to punish parliamentarians include the expulsion of 11 MPs in 2005 in the “cash-for-query scam”. Matters like motion of thanks on the President’s address also fall under the motion.It is now for the Speaker to decide whether to admit Dubey’s notice, and if he does, then he is likely to order an inquiry before the House finalises its action, which may include expulsion. The offensive against Gandhi came a day after he accused govt of “compromising” India’s interests in the trade agreement with the US.Dubey alleged that Gandhi does not ask govt to extend his security cover to the visiting countries and his tours are invariably shrouded in mystery, linking this to his association with Ford Foundation and George Soros’ foundation, two global institutions accused by BJP of funding campaigns against it.The BJP MP alleged that Gandhi has become a part of a “thuggery gang” to destabilise India from within. He said this is only tip of the iceberg, accusing the leader of the opposition of using his position to foment public sentiments against institutions and govt.
