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As the house convened on Tuesday, Leader of Opposition Dr Govind Singh quoted news articles saying it was reported that the censure motion was approved ”unanimously” by the House, though the Congress had not supported it.
It is incorrect to say that the motion was approved unanimously as it was brought during “Zero Hour’ without prior notice, Singh said. Also, the motion was not brought before the House business committee for discussion, which he said was against democratic norms.
The Opposition leader said that the Congress legislature party was opposing this censure motion.
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Before the motion was passed by voice vote, MLA Jain said the BBC had telecast an objectionable documentary by misinterpreting the 2002 Gujarat riots and portrayed then chief minister Narendra Modi in a bad light.
He said the documentary had also cast aspersions on the country’s judiciary which amounts to contempt of court and added that the judiciary works independently and freely in India.
Jain said the Central government should take action against the broadcaster.
The speaker placed the resolution to test which was passed by a voice vote.
The Gujarat assembly had on Friday passed a resolution requesting the Centre to take strict action against BBC for “tarnishing the image and popularity of PM Modi with the documentary”.
A censure motion is an expression of strong disapproval. In Parliamentary procedure, it is a debatable main motion that could be adopted by a majority vote.
The MP assembly has 230 members – 96 from the Congress and 127 from BJP besides four independents, two of BSP and one SP.