Privilege motion against Arnab Goswami, Kangana Ranaut moved in Maharashtra Assembly

Shiv Sena on Tuesday moved a breach of privilege motion against Republic TV’s managing director and editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami and against Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut.

According to a media report, the privilege motion against Goswami was moved in the Assembly by Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik.

While moving the motion, MLA Sarnaik accused Goswami of using “derogatory language” and making baseless remarks against Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and National Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar.

Meanwhile, the privilege motion against actor Ranaut was moved in the Maharashtra Legislative Council for her remarks comparing Mumbai to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

MLA Sarnaik said Goswami has been frequently insulting ministers, Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha members during debates on his TV and has made unfounded allegations against many in the Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case.

“In the name of independent media, he has been maligning the image of the Chief Minister, Pawar saheb and other elected representatives. We condemn this and demand that strict action be initiated by the House,” the report quoted the MLA as saying.

However, the privilege motion was opposed by the BJP members.

But despite opposition, parliamentary affairs minister Anil Parab seconded the proposal and requested the presiding chair to accept the motion.

“When someone targets the Prime Minister, you get angry. Then why don’t you also feel the same angst when someone wrongfully targets the Chief Minister,” the report quoted Parab as saying.

NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal and Samajwadi Party’s Abu Azmi supported the motion.

Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal ruled that “action as per legislative rules” be taken on the Sarnaik’s proposal.

Shiv Sena legislator Manisha Kayande moved a similar motion in the Legislative Council against Goswami, while Congress’ Ashok Jagtap moved a privilege motion against Kangana Ranaut for ‘defaming Mumbai’.

Maharashtra Legislative Council chairman Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar accepted both the motions, saying, “I have accepted the breach of privilege of motion. In the absence of a committee for it, I am going to decide on it (on the motion).”

Ranaut had compared Mumbai to PoK, saying she felt “unsafe in the city”.

After her comment, the actor got into a verbal spat with Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut.