New Delhi, Aug 5 : Rajya Sabha Chairman M.Venkaiah Naidu on Friday clarified that members of Parliament do not have the benefit of immunity against arrest in criminal proceedings in the course of their session.Naidu also stated that members are not immune to summons from authorities of law enforcement.Naidu made the comment in response to Congress members who claimed that the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge was slammed as he was summoned to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for interrogation on Thursday during work hours of the House. Congress members have been protesting about the alleged abuse of the agencies that investigate.Naidu claimed that Congress members are misinformed about the fact that they are exempt from the actions of agencies when the Parliament is in session.
“Members of Parliament enjoy certain privileges , which allow them to carry out their duties without a hindrance.But in the case of criminal charges, members of Parliament aren’t on a separate situation from a regular citizen.
Members of Parliament are not granted the benefit of immunity to be detained in the course of a criminal investigation in the course of the session or elsewhere,” Naidu clarified.He advised members not to use House duty as a reason to not appear before any investigating agency should one is required to appear.
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