Jaya Bachchan vs Jagdeep Dhankhar again; Opposition, led by Sonia Gandhi, walks out of Rajya Sabha
Addressing the Rajya Sabha , Jaya Bachchan, a Samajwadi Party MP, expressed her disapproval of Jagdeep Dhankhar's tone.
Jaya Bachchan and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar clashed once more after the actor-turned-politician accused the Vice President of speaking to her in an “unacceptable” tone and showing disrespect. The confrontation led to protests from opposition members, who, led by Congress stalwart Sonia Gandhi, ultimately walked out of the Rajya Sabha.
Addressing the Upper House on Friday, Jaya Bachchan, a Samajwadi Party MP, expressed her disapproval of Jagdeep Dhankhar's tone, stating that as an actor, she understands body language and expressions, and found his manner of speaking to be unacceptable.
This was second time this week Jaya Bachchan was introduced by Jagdeep Dhankhar as "Jaya Amitabh Bachchan". Jaya Bachchan has expressed her strong disapproval of this practice.
"I am an artiste. I understand body language and expressions. But your tone is not right. We are your colleagues but your tone is unacceptable," Jaya Bachchan said.
Jagdeep Dhankhar then fired back at Jaya Bachchan. "Jaya ji, you have earned a great reputation. You know an actor is subject to the director. But everyday I do not want to repeat myself. Everyday I dont want to do schooling. You are talking about my tone? Enough of it. You may be anybody. You have to understand the decorum. You can be a celebrity but accept decorum."
‘We are not school children’: Jaya Bachchan
Jaya Bachchan, after walking out of the Rajya Sabha, further hit out the Rajya Sabha Chairman.
“...I objected to the tone used by the Chair. We are not school children. Some of us are senior citizens. I was upset with the tone and especially when the Leader of Opposition stood up to speak, he switched off the mike. How can you do this? You have to allow the Leader of Opposition to speak...I mean using unparliamentary words every time which I do not want to say in front of you all. You are a nuisance, ‘Buddhiheen’,” the veteran leader told reporters.
Jaya Bachchan was accompanied by Sonia Gandhi and other senior Opposition leaders.
"He said you may be a celebrity, I do not care. I am not asking him to care. I am saying I am a member of Parliament. This is my fifth term. I know what I am saying. The way things are being spoken in Parliament these days, nobody has ever spoken before. I want an apology," Jaya Bachchan added.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said, "She (Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan) comes with vastly more experience than the Vice President himself. He cannot disrespect the Member of Parliament."
TMC MP Dola Sen said, "She (SP MP Jaya Bachchan) has not come here as a celebrity. She has come here as an elected Member of Parliament."
Chair acting in 'partisan' manner: Congress
The Congress accused the Chair of acting in a "partisan" manner against the entire Opposition.
Soon after Opposition walked out of the Rajya Sabha protesting against what they termed as "unacceptable" tone and disrespect shown by Dhankhar, the Congress held a press conference to claim that the Chair was not giving the Opposition the importance it deserves in the Upper House.
The opposition is not getting the importance it deserves in the Upper House, he said.
Congress' deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari claimed that Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge is not allowed to speak, he is frequently interrupted and his microphones are often shut.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh told reporters that Ghanshyam Tiwari had insulted the Leader of Opposition in the House in front of everybody.
"Today it was said that Ghanshyam Tiwari came and in a closed door meeting praised Kharge ji. So what he said privately, we demanded that he should say it in the House. He insulted Kharge ji, he should say that what I said was wrong and I respect him and by mistake I said what I said," Ramesh said.
(With inputs from ANI, PTI)