Latest list of unparliamentary words triggers controversy
The latest list of unparliamentary words in English and Hindi published by the Lok Sabha Secretariat last Monday has triggered a big controversy.
‘Unparliamentary words’ are words which are considered insulting if used in speeches by MPs inside the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. If used, they are expunged from the final text versions of the speeches by the speaker of the Lok Sabha, under Rule 380 of the ‘Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha’ and the chairman of the Rajya Sabha, under Rule 261 of the ‘Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha)’.
Opposition MPs and politicians are saying that the latest list words has been compiled in such a way that it includes most of the words which the opposition has been using to attack the government. May of the so-called ‘unparliamentary’ words are quite common in ordinary speech, another reason the opposition is up in arms.
With just a few days to go for July 18, when the monsoon session is scheduled to start, the list is the latest point of friction between the government, trying its best to muzzle those not in sync with its views, and the opposition.
A sampling of the reactions from top MPs is given below.
An indicative list of the words which have been listed as ‘unpariiamentary’, as per the latest list published bythe Lok Sabha (in alphabetical order):
ENGLISH WORDS
abused, anarchist, ashamed
betrayed, bloodshed, bloody, bobcut
cheated, childishness, Chandal Quartet, child wit, corrupt, COVID spreader, coward, criminal, crocodile tears
dictatorial, disgrace, donkey, drama
eyewash
foolish, fudge
goons
hooliganism, hypocrisy
incompetent
lie, lollypop
mislead
sexual harassment, shame, snoopgate
untrue
HINDI WORDS
ahankaar, ant-shant, apmaan, asatya
bechara, behri sarkar
chamcha, chamchagiri, chelas
daadagiri, dalal, danga, dhindora peetna, dohra charitra
gaddar, gariana, ghadiyali ansu, girgit, gul khilaye
Jaichand, jumlajeevi
kala bazaar, kala din, Khalistani, khareed farokht, khoon se kheti
nautanki, nikamma
pittu
samvedanheen, Shakuni
taanashah, taanashahi
uchke, ulta chor kotwal ko dante
vinash purush, vishwasghat
It must be mentioned, however, that it is also written in the published document that determining whether some of the mentioned keywords are parliamentary or not has to done in the context of usage.
