New Delhi, February 9 DMK MP Tiruchi Siva said on Monday that he had submitted a notice of breach of privilege against Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal for sharing details of an interim trade deal between India and the US in a media interview while Parliament was in session.
Siva raised the issue shortly after the Rajya Sabha met at 11 am and papers were tabled.
"I have given a notice of breach of privilege against Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. He gave an interview regarding the government's policy decision outside the House when Parliament was in session... This amounts to a breach of privilege of this House," Siva said, and was supported in his assertion by Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge.
Chairman C P Radhakrishnan said he would look into it. "He has already made a statement in the House... We will look into it," he said.
A brief uproar came from the Opposition benches as the chairman proceeded with the Zero Hour.
Goyal, the minister for commerce and industry, said on Sunday that adequate safeguards are in place in the trade agreement with the US to protect the interests of farmers and the domestic industry from any significant increase in imports.
The trade deal with the US will "ultimately help our farmers," who are already exporting agricultural and fish products worth USD 50-55 billion, he said.