August 9th 2024.
New Delhi: The ongoing tension between Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and the INDIA bloc parties reached a boiling point on Friday. According to sources, the opposition is considering submitting a notice to remove the vice president from his position. The timing of the notice is still being discussed and decided, but the resolution would serve as a symbolic gesture to highlight the Chair's "blatantly and consistently partisan" behavior.
Article 67 of the Constitution states that the vice president can be removed from office by a resolution passed by a majority of the Council of States and agreed upon by the House of the People. However, such a resolution cannot be moved unless a notice of at least fourteen days has been given. Opposition sources have reported that 87 members have already signed on to the proposal to take action against Dhankhar.
A source revealed that two days ago, the Leader of the House, J P Nadda, was informally informed about the opposition's plans to remove Dhankhar. The opposition parties' concerns include the frequent turning off of the Leader of Opposition's microphone and the violation of parliamentary rules and conventions. The source also stated that making personal remarks against members is unacceptable.
The INDIA bloc parties and Dhankhar were engaged in another heated exchange on Friday, with the Congress accusing the Chair of acting in a "partisan" manner towards the entire opposition. Following the opposition's walkout from the Rajya Sabha in protest against the Chair's behavior, the Congress held a press conference to express their concerns.
Congress leader Ajay Maken stated that all opposition parties feel that the Chairman's approach is biased. He emphasized that the Rajya Sabha sets the standards for other legislatures and the Chairman should not be seen as partial towards any particular side. Pramod Tiwari, Congress's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha, claimed that the Leader of Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, is often not allowed to speak, interrupted frequently, and his microphone is shut off.
Tiwari further added that this issue is not limited to one party, as even two-three days ago, Ghanshyam Tiwari used derogatory language against the Leader of Opposition, which was unacceptable. The opposition had given a notice for a privilege motion, but it has not been ruled upon yet, and they are still waiting for a written ruling.
The opposition parties, including Congress parliamentary party Sonia Gandhi and other senior leaders, walked out of the House in protest. This walkout came after Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan and Dhankhar had a heated exchange in the Upper House. Bachchan expressed her displeasure at the Chair's tone, stating that they are colleagues, and although he may be sitting on the chair, his tone was not acceptable.
In response, Dhankhar defended himself, saying that Bachchan has a great reputation as an actor, but she does not see what he sees from his position. He also stated that he does not need to be "schooled" by anyone and that he has always gone out of his way to ensure a fair and balanced approach. Nadda, in turn, slammed the opposition and demanded an apology for their behavior towards Dhankhar.
After the walkout, Bachchan spoke to reporters, expressing her concerns about the Chair's tone and the constant interruption of the Leader of Opposition. She also emphasized that if the opposition's voice is not heard in the Rajya Sabha, then where else will it be heard. She also raised the issue of unparliamentary language being used against opposition members.
Overall, the opposition parties feel that they are not being given the importance they deserve in the Upper House and are determined to address this issue. It remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming days.
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