Congress member Kodikunnil Suresh and AITC’s Kalyan Banerjee came to Rahul Gandhi‘s defence after BJP‘s Nishikant Dubey argued for the Congress leader’s expulsion from the LS. Dubey made the charges before the LS committee on privileges.

It is learnt that Suresh argued there was no case for breach of privileges against Gandhi as the contentious parts of his speech had already been expunged from the record. However, panel Chairman Sunil Kumar Singh observed that though parts of Gandhi’s speeches were expunged, the Speaker had still forwarded the notices to the panel and therefore, the panel could proceed with the notices.

Banerjee is said to have contended since the Speaker was presiding over the proceedings when Gandhi made the speech, the latter’s remarks could have been expunged immediately rather than towards midnight.