New Delhi, July 23
The Samajwadi Party today complained to Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee about the three BJP MPs who had alleged that they had been bribed by the party to abstain in the trust vote that was won by the Manmohan Singh government.

"I have written a complaint about breach of privilege to Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee," party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha Mohan Singh said.

There were dramatic scenes during the debate on the trust vote yesterday with three MPs from the BJP — Ashok Argal (Morena), Faggan Singh Kulaste (Mandla) and Mahavir Bhagora (Salumber) — displaying wads of currency in the Lok Sabha, alleging that they had been bribed by the Samajwadi Party.

The three MPs said the money was given to them by Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh and they also named Congress leader Ahmed Patel.

Mohan Singh said he had cited three points while moving the breach of privilege against the three MPs.

"My name was announced and I had stood up to give my speech when these three MPs jumped into the well and restricted the speech."

The three had not given prior notice to either the Speaker or the presiding officer. "They displayed bundles of currency notes as the whole nation and the world saw in disgust. They have maligned the temple of Indian democracy and tarnished the image of the country."

Third, he has pointed out that carrying bundles of currency notes into the House was prohibited. "How could they get so much of money inside the House? It is prohibitory material. This is a breach of Parliament," Mohan Singh said. — IANS