Saurabh Mukherjee
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday, March 27, dismissed Congress leader Jairam Ramesh’s privilege notice against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which alleged that Shah had cast aspersions on Sonia Gandhi, a Rajya Sabha member and Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party.
On Wednesday, Ramesh had moved the notice under Rule 188 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States, accusing the Home Minister of making unfounded remarks against Gandhi during his speech in the House.
The comments in question were made on March 25 during Shah’s reply to the debate on the Disaster Management Bill, 2024, where he drew comparisons between the PM Relief Fund established during the Congress rule and the PM CARES Fund initiated under the current government.
“I hereby give a notice of question of privilege in terms of Rule 188 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) against Shri Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs, for casting aspersions on Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Member of Rajya Sabha and Chairperson of Congress Parliamentary Party,” Ramesh wrote in his letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman.
“The PM relief fund was made during the Congress regime, and during this Government’s tenure, the PM Cares fund was started. During the Congress regime, only one family had control, and the Congress president was a member of this. The Congress President is a part of the Government fund, what reply will they give to the people of this country? Doesn’t anyone read or see this?” Ramesh claimed that Shah had said.
Responding to the notice, Chairman Dhankhar stated that when the remarks were made, some Members of Parliament had raised objections, following which Shah had agreed to authenticate his statement.
Dhankhar emphasized that Ramesh’s notice had gained significant media attention, which he said was against the established practice of keeping such communications confidential until a formal decision was made.
“If a communication is sent to the Chair, as has been indicated in the bulletin and a long-standing practice, it should not get published,” Dhankar said.
The Chairman further informed the House that he had reviewed the authentication submitted by the Home Minister, which referenced an instance from 1948.
However, opposition members objected to this justification, arguing that the discussion was about the present situation in 2025. Despite their protests, Dhankhar accepted Shah’s authentication and rejected Ramesh’s privilege notice.
The decision sparked fresh tensions between the treasury and opposition benches, with Congress leaders insisting that Shah’s remarks were an attempt to malign Sonia Gandhi and the party’s leadership.
However, with the Chairman’s ruling final, the privilege motion stands dismissed.
On Wednesday, Ramesh had moved the notice under Rule 188 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States, accusing the Home Minister of making unfounded remarks against Gandhi during his speech in the House.
The comments in question were made on March 25 during Shah’s reply to the debate on the Disaster Management Bill, 2024, where he drew comparisons between the PM Relief Fund established during the Congress rule and the PM CARES Fund initiated under the current government.
“I hereby give a notice of question of privilege in terms of Rule 188 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) against Shri Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs, for casting aspersions on Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Member of Rajya Sabha and Chairperson of Congress Parliamentary Party,” Ramesh wrote in his letter to the Rajya Sabha Chairman.
Congress Chief Whip in Rajya Sabha and AICC General Secretary-Communication Shri @Jairam_Ramesh submits a notice of question of privilege to the Rajya Sabha Chairman Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar against Home Minister Shri Amit Shah for casting aspersions on CPP Chairperson & Hon'ble… pic.twitter.com/Ienqms7EJm
— Congress (@INCIndia) March 26, 2025
“The PM relief fund was made during the Congress regime, and during this Government’s tenure, the PM Cares fund was started. During the Congress regime, only one family had control, and the Congress president was a member of this. The Congress President is a part of the Government fund, what reply will they give to the people of this country? Doesn’t anyone read or see this?” Ramesh claimed that Shah had said.
Responding to the notice, Chairman Dhankhar stated that when the remarks were made, some Members of Parliament had raised objections, following which Shah had agreed to authenticate his statement.
Dhankhar emphasized that Ramesh’s notice had gained significant media attention, which he said was against the established practice of keeping such communications confidential until a formal decision was made.
“If a communication is sent to the Chair, as has been indicated in the bulletin and a long-standing practice, it should not get published,” Dhankar said.
The Chairman further informed the House that he had reviewed the authentication submitted by the Home Minister, which referenced an instance from 1948.
However, opposition members objected to this justification, arguing that the discussion was about the present situation in 2025. Despite their protests, Dhankhar accepted Shah’s authentication and rejected Ramesh’s privilege notice.
The decision sparked fresh tensions between the treasury and opposition benches, with Congress leaders insisting that Shah’s remarks were an attempt to malign Sonia Gandhi and the party’s leadership.
However, with the Chairman’s ruling final, the privilege motion stands dismissed.
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