Blocking PM CARES Queries in Parliament Undermines Parliamentary Oversight: John Brittas

New Delhi: Following media reports that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has directed the Lok Sabha Secretariat not to allow questions related to the PM CARES Fund and other similar relief funds in Parliament, John Brittas MP has written letters to both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha chairmen. Brittas has urged the government to reject any such move, calling it a violation of legal procedures and parliamentary norms.

In his letter, Brittas emphasized that the government's decision to exempt the PM CARES Fund from parliamentary scrutiny is inconsistent with the law. He noted that the PM CARES Fund was created by the central government for public welfare, and it receives significant contributions from both the public and corporates under the Companies Act, 2013. Given that the fund collects thousands of crores of rupees, Brittas argued that it cannot be exempted from scrutiny simply because it is not directly under the government's responsibility.

The CPI(M) MP criticized any attempts to prevent questions about the fund, stating that such actions would undermine parliamentary oversight and democratic accountability. He warned that excluding these funds from scrutiny would create an "alien zone" outside constitutional governance.

Brittas urged to reject any proposal that would hinder transparency and constitutional accountability, and to allow reasonable questions related to the PM CARES Fund to be raised in Parliament.