New Delhi: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday, demanding an inquiry into the conduct of officials who allegedly asked Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra to vacate a Circuit House in West Bengal's Krishnanagar late at night on August 14.
In his letter, Sawant said the incident involving the Krishnanagar MP raised questions about the privilege, dignity and security of a parliamentarian.
"Such action against a sitting Member of Parliament is highly objectionable and raises serious questions of privilege, dignity and security. As the custodian of the dignity, rights, and privileges of the Members of this August House, I urge your immediate intervention to direct the concerned authorities to guarantee complete security for Ms Moitra," Sawant said.
He also sought an inquiry into the actions of officials who allegedly directed Moitra to leave the Circuit House and called for accountability for what he termed "administrative overreach".
Moitra has moved a privilege notice before Birla against Nadia District Magistrate Srikant Palli, Additional District Magistrate Nripendra Singh and Nazareth Deputy Collector Anamika Bera over the incident.
She has alleged that despite being allotted a room at the Circuit House and being served dinner there, she was asked to vacate it late at night on the ground that the premises were closed for annual maintenance and cleaning.
Sawant also flagged the gathering of a crowd outside the Circuit House while Moitra was being asked to leave.
"More seriously, while she was being asked to leave at such an hour, a large crowd gathered outside the Circuit House, raising provocative slogans and creating a hostile atmosphere, thereby raising serious concerns regarding her personal safety," he said.
"I also request that appropriate safeguards be put in place to ensure that no sitting Member of Parliament is subjected to such administrative overreach or placed in a situation compromising their safety and dignity," Sawant said.
CPI(M) MP K Radhakrishnan has also written to Birla over the incident, seeking a formal inquiry or its reference to the Committee on Privileges.
Moitra has alleged that the conduct of the district officials was aimed at preventing her from discharging her parliamentary duties "free of intimidation and harassment."
