January 22, 2025

List Of Expunged Words: Needless Controversy

By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2022-07-15 10:30:19

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Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.

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It is distressing that opposition politicians are not aware of the facts before they launch an attack on the government based on their understanding of events which is not always correct. The latest instance of several opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, jumping in to criticize the government for 'banning' a long list of words as unparliamentary falls under this category. As seasoned politicians, they should have been aware that the list issued on the website of the Lok Sabha secretariat was not of words that were banned but of words that were expunged from speeches made not only in the Parliament but also in state assemblies. They should have been aware that this list was put out periodically (in printed form) from 1954 till 2010 and every year since then.  Since 2018 it is being published on the website to save paper. Hence, their allegation that the government was banning all words that they use to 'describe' the Modi government was not true. As Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla clarified, no words have been banned and the list is only of words that were expunged, even in assemblies of opposition-ruled states and also in the Parliaments of some Commonwealth countries.

The government also clarified that the list was a mere compilation of words that were actually expunged in 2021 and is not an order or even a suggestion that these words are banned. It also said that individual words that were expunged should not be taken in isolation since they were expunged with reference to the context in which they were used. Also, the current list contains words that were expunged during the UPA rule and also in assemblies in states where the opposition parties are in power. It was also clarified that as per rule, members are informed whenever such words are expunged from their speeches and they are allowed to raise objections and demand a hearing but the final decision is vested in the presiding officer.

The people expect the opposition to keep the government on its toes and protest against the policies of the government that it considers anti-people or against the interests of the nation. But the people also expect the opposition to be aware of facts and not mislead them by making false allegations. Hence, the opposition parties must get their facts right before making such allegations.