RS chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar leaves House, says Opposition feels he’s unworthy
Dhankhar said he would have to leave the House following an uproar as the Opposition demanded a discussion on Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification at the Olympics
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday excused himself from presiding over the House for a brief interval, after expressing anguish over the Opposition’s conduct towards the chair. While Dhankhar has accused the Opposition of being indecorous toward the Chair and “tarnishing the dignity” of the post, as many as 14 opposition parties wrote to him complaining that his decisions have been “unilateral and unprecedented.”
After the Opposition walked out of the House in protest over not being allowed to discuss the issue of wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Olympics, the Chairman alleged he was not given "the support he ought to have received”.
“With a heavy heart, I am not running away from my oath, but given what I witnessed today, the behavior exhibited by members, both physically and otherwise, I find myself incapable of continuing to sit here for some time,” he said before excusing himself. He returned to preside over the House after recess and after meeting leaders of several opposition parties including the Congress, the TMC, BJD, CPI, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and the DMK.
The stand-off between the Chairman and the opposition began when opposition leaders wanted to discuss the issue of Phogat’s disqualification, under Rule 267 that permits the House to suspend business and take up an issue of importance.
The opposition leaders protested when the Chairman did not mention that notices have been filed by them. The leaders pointed out that on an earlier occasion (July 29), the Chairman had permitted notices under Rule 267 given by 5 BJP leaders to discuss the flooding in a coaching centre in Delhi that led to the death of three IAS aspirants, to be taken up under Rule 176 as a short duration discussion. The Opposition citing the precedent, wanted Phogat’s issue to be discussed in the House.
Leader of the Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, said the House should have a discussion on the issue and know "who is behind" it (the disqualification).
When the Chairman did not relent, Derek O'Brien of the TMC urged the Chairman to allow the members to speak. He rose from his seat to demand a discussion on the notice given by his party, but was reprimanded by Dhankhar for raising his voice and being indecorous. "You are shouting at the Chair. Your conduct is ugliest in the House. I condemn your actions. Next time I will show you the door," Dhankhar told O'brien, even as the opposition staged a walk out.
Dhankhar then went on to say that the conduct of the opposition has violated norms and parliament’s dignity.
“Turning this august house into a center of chaos is an affront to Indian democracy. Tarnishing the dignity of the Chair, creating a physically challenging environment, this is not just indecorous conduct, but behavior that transgresses all boundaries," he said.
He further said, “What I have been seeing in recent days and the way the challenge is being given through words, letters, through newspapers, how many wrong comments have been made (against him).”
Asserting that the opposition’s “challenge” is not for him but the "post of the Chairman”, Dhankhar said, “... These challenges are not directed at me; they are aimed at the Chair, implying that the person occupying it is unworthy. I have not received the support from the house that I ought to have. Despite my best efforts, I am disheartened." He said the House cannot be used as a platform to “monetise and politicise” Phogat’s disqualification. He also referred to Emergency and said, “...Ee know how it starts. It starts with a challenge to the Parliament’s democracy.”
Leader of the House, JP Nadda, criticised the Opposition’s behaviour and called it "condemnable" and said the issue of Phogat's disqualification cannot be seen as political issue of government versus opposition.
Speaking outside Parliament, several opposition leaders said at the meeting with the Chairman they flagged the issue of not being allowed discussions on subjects they give notices for.
“On August 5, as many as 14 opposition parties including the BJD and the BSP wrote to the chairman, complaining that his decision about allowing a discussion on the working of the ministry of cooperation was against letter and spirit of what was decided in the business advisory committee. The letter said his decision was completely unilateral and unprecedented,” an opposition leader privy to the details said.
The opposition parties wrote that it was decided in the BAC that the house would have discussions on the working of ministries of housing and urban affairs, agriculture and farmers welfare and defence and the choice of the fourth ministry for discussion would be between home affairs and new and renewable sources of energy. The decision to pick the fourth ministry was to be made by the chairman after consultations with political parties.
“The chairman on his own decided and announced that the fourth ministry would be ministry of cooperation,” a second opposition leader said.
Opposition parties are miffed that their demand for discussion on ministries of home and cooperation has not been met.