December 5, 2025
Parliamentary Party Leader in Rajya Sabha Derek O’Brien’s Point of Order on the democratic right of every Member to raise a Point of Order, and the Minister not laying the topic of electoral reforms on the floor of the house despite being decided in the BAC meeting
Sir, I have a point of order. Sir, my point of order is under Rule 258 and also on the observation of the hon. Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. You were in the BAC. Sir, two items were listed for Short Duration Discussion. You were there, Sir. It was decided under your guidance. The hon. Parliamentary Affairs Minister was there and we were also there. There were two items listed. He has read out one of the two items. The time was allocated for two discussions next week. Hon. Minister read out one. This is what I heard. But, he has not read out the second one which is ‘Discussion on the Electoral Reforms’. So, when we were there at the BAC, under your Chairmanship… Sir, one minute. Let me complete and then you can speak. That was one issue. Since you were at the BAC, Electoral Reform or SIR or whatever it is, we wanted to discuss it next week. Second is: I just want to make the point under Rule 258. Sir, Rule 258 is a right of every Member of this House. When a Member stands up and says, ‘point of order’, it has to be given. But, yesterday, for forty-five minutes, we were trying to raise the point of order. .. Let me finish. First, we stood up at our seats. We did not get to raise the point of order. . In desperation, as the floor leader, I had to go down to the Well. Sir, please, this is our right. For every Member, a point of order means a point of order. ..Nobody can take this away.Protect us from this. That is all. Thank you.
