An important amendment has been introduced in the oath-taking procedure after a controversy erupted over slogans like ‘Jai Palestine’, ‘Jai Hindu Rashtra’ while taking oath recently by some MPs elected to the 18th Lok Sabha. Congress President Om Birla has added a new section in ‘Direction-1’ in the ‘Speaker’s Instructions’ to regulate some matters related to the functioning of the House, which was not part of the rules earlier.
Swatantrakar has amended Rule 389, according to which now no member of Parliament can say anything on the oath format. No one can comment on any paper or behind the mask. In case any member speaks even a single word different from the oath format, the impatient worker of taking action against him will remain safe with the Congress President. According to Rule 389 of the rules prescribed for procedure and conduct of work in governance, the President has made the following amendment in governance…
According to the new rule, a member of Parliament will take and subscribe an oath or affirmation in accordance with the oath format prescribed in the Third Schedule of the Constitution of India. Apart from this, he will not use any words or expressions of his own or make any comment while taking the oath. The following is the format of oath prescribed in the constitution for the President…
‘I, so-and-so, being appointed (or nominated) a Member of the State, do swear in the name of God/solemnly swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India and that I will faithfully perform the duties of the office which I am about to assume.’
Let us tell you that recently when the newly elected members of the 18th Lok Sabha were being sworn in, some of them took oath on their own after taking oath. Hyderabad MP and MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi raised the slogan ‘Jai Bhim, Jai Mim, Jai Palestine’ after taking oath. After this, the construction of a plaque started after the swearing-in by the President. Bareilly BJP MP Chhatrapal Gangwar raised the slogan ‘Jai Hindu Rashtra’ after taking oath. Ghaziabad BJP MP Atul Garg raised the slogan ‘Atal Bihari Vajpayee Zindabad… Narendra Modi Zindabad…’ in response to Owaisi’s ‘Jai Palestine’.
When opposition leaders objected to this, he went a step further and raised the slogan ‘Dr Hedgewar Zindabad’. Let us tell you that Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar was the founder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Om Birla expressed disappointment over this behavior and at the same time he indicated that he would take strict action to stop such actions. The purpose of the change in rule 389 is to maintain the sanctity of the oath taking process.