Kumar Bahukhandi
New Delhi :The Congress president alleged that the Rajya Sabha Chairman has consistently suppressed the freedom of expression of opposition members through ‘incessant uproar, undue insistence on certification, inappropriate remarks and refusal to list issues of public importance for discussion’.
Asserting that “crushing of democracy” has become the norm in Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition in the House Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday December 12 , 2024 accused Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar of misusing power and questioned his impartiality. The Congress president alleged that the Rajya Sabha Chairman has consistently stifled the freedom of expression of opposition members through “incessant uproar, undue insistence on certification, inappropriate remarks and refusal to list issues of public importance for discussion”.
Opposition moves no-confidence motion against Chairman
His sharp criticism of the Vice President comes two days after the opposition India Block parties led by the Congress submitted a notice in the Rajya Sabha to move a no-confidence motion against Jagdeep Dhankhar, accusing him of being ‘highly partisan’. On behalf of the opposition, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Naseer Hussain on Tuesday December 10 , 2024 submitted the notice signed by 60 opposition MPs, including Congress, RJD, TMC, CPI, CPI-M, JMM, AAP, DMK, Samajwadi Party, to Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Modi.
‘Curbing the opposition’s ‘right to speak’ is common’
In a post on X on Thursday, Kharge alleged that curbing the opposition’s ‘right to speak’ and ‘expression of opinion’ has become common in the Rajya Sabha. The Congress chief said, ‘Crushing ‘democracy’ and ‘suppressing the truth’ have become the autocratic norm in the Rajya Sabha… Attacks on established ‘parliamentary practices’ are promoted in the Rajya Sabha and ‘ethical conduct’ is abolished… Our resolve to uphold the Constitution, protect the sacred chamber of democracy, protect parliamentary practices becomes even stronger and firmer in the face of this brutal, deadly and aggressive attack.’
He said, ‘We will not bow down. We will stand firmly in defense of the democratic rights of every fellow citizen and our sacred Constitution.’ Kharge said that he was not allowed to speak in the House and he wants to put 10 points before the people of India as to why the opposition expresses ‘no confidence’ in the conduct of the chairman and the functioning of the Rajya Sabha.
Powers vested in the chairman were misused – Kharge
He alleged that ‘Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar’s conduct has raised serious concerns over his impartiality, has constantly criticized the opposition and has misused the powers vested in the chairman.’ He said that on several occasions, the chairman has misused his authority by suspending members en masse and extending these suspensions beyond one session, which sets a worrying precedent.
Displays ‘unnecessary sycophancy’ towards the government – Kharge
Kharge said, he has misused the sanctity of the chair to praise his political ideologue – RSS, and said that ‘I am the Eklavya of RSS’, which is not in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution. He claimed that the Chairman displays “unnecessary sycophancy” towards the government both inside and outside the House. He said, on several occasions, he has compared the Prime Minister to Mahatma Gandhi and termed the Opposition’s demand for accountability from the Prime Minister as wrong.
