New Delhi, March 11 BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Wednesday criticized the opposition for its move to move a motion to remove Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, saying they can raise any issue they like in Parliament if they want to "make themselves the butt of jokes".
The former Union minister also criticized the Congress, saying the party that "weakened" the election body by appointing "yes-men" as election commissioners during its rule wants a discussion on the issue in Parliament.
Sources said that signatures have been collected for a notice seeking a motion to remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar, adding that the MPs plan to submit the notice in both Houses of Parliament.
A senior MP familiar with the developments said that they have finished collecting signatures and the notice will be submitted either on Thursday or Friday. The MP also said the notice will be submitted to both Houses.
Around 120 MPs have so far signed the notice to be submitted to the Lok Sabha, and around 60 MPs have signed the notice to be submitted in the Upper House, the source said.
The notice has been signed by members from all INDIA bloc parties, the source added.
Asked about the move, Thakur told reporters in the Parliament House complex, "The Congress used to make the election commission 'pangu' by appointing any 'changu-mangu' as election commissioner (when the party was in power)."
"Everyone knows how the Congress kept the Election Commission in its pocket," the BJP leader said, wondering if the Congress wants a discussion on the issue in Parliament.
It is also up to the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to decide whether a discussion in the House should happen on the CEC issue or not, he added.
"In the last debate, they had to bite the dust. Rahul Gandhi did not have any answer. The home minister (Amit Shah) had spoken at length," Thakur said in an apparent reference to a debate on electoral reforms.
"They can bring any issue for discussion if they want to make themselves the butt of jokes," the BJP leader added.