The video shows the then Leader of Opposition Swaraj's speech being repeatedly interrupted by Kumar, who was then Lok Sabha Speaker during the UPA-II regime
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday targeted the Opposition's Presidential candidate, Meira Kumar, and questioned her neutrality by tweeting a video and a news report of 2013 Lok Sabha proceedings.
The video shows the then Leader of Opposition Swaraj's speech being repeatedly interrupted by Kumar, who was then Lok Sabha Speaker during the UPA-II regime.
Swaraj in her tweet also said, "This is how Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar treated the Leader of Opposition." In another tweet, she also posted a news report — of the same Lok Sabha proceedings — headlined: "Speaker interrupted Sushma 60 times in 6-min speech."
In the six-minute video, Swaraj is seen lambasting the Manmohan Singh-led dispensation for alleged financial scams, and calling it the most corrupt government since Independence.
Four minutes into the video, Kumar is seen repeatedly saying "alright", "thank you", "okay", "I have to proceed", apparently to cut short Swaraj's speech.
Her Twitter attack is being seen as a reply to news reports trying to run NDA's Presidential choice Ram Nath Kovind down for being a defence witness for former BJP President Bangaru Laxman when he faced corruption charges. Kovind, 71, earlier practised as a lawyer.
Swaraj had then also questioned the Speaker's role for not "protecting her" when a number of MPs from the treasury benches created ruckus after her speech. Her tweets are likely to intensify hostilities between the two camps ahead of the July 17 Presidential election.
Unmindful of Swaraj's attack, Kumar, 72, in a letter to the Electoral College members on Sunday, sought support for her to take oath as India's next President and "protect and defend the Constitution."
"It is this Constitution that I and countless others have invoked to reinforce our democratic values. It has guided and elevated us in times of crisis and confusion," said Kumar on Sunday.
"The Constitution recognises the office of President as being the final touchstone for the passage of laws. It, therefore, cannot function to serve narrow political interests," she said. She asked the electoral college members "to heed the inner voice of conscience and set the course of the nation."
Both candidates — Kumar and Kovind — for India's highest constitutional post are from Dalit communities. Kovind quit as Bihar Governor to file his nomination papers on Friday. The NDA has a clear edge in the electoral college, and a string of fence-sitters has also pledged support to it. President Pranab Mukherjee's term ends on July 24.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Sushma Swaraj and Meira Kumar")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}