Shruti Suman
A lighthearted exchange between Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar brought laughter to the House, offering a rare moment of relief amidst the session’s intense debates. However, the exchange quickly turned contentious when Mr. Kharge accused the Chairman of shielding Prime Minister Narendra Modi, prompting a swift retort.
The Congress president was advocating for a discussion on the Manipur violence under Rule 267, while the Chair suggested that the matter could be discussed under Rule 176, which allows for a brief discussion.
The disagreement over the choice of rule for the discussion has resulted in a nearly two-week-long impasse in the Upper House.
Mr. Kharge, addressing the Chair, stated, “A notice under Rule 267 necessitates prioritizing the discussed issue over all other matters. This has been the established practice. I fail to comprehend why this has turned into a matter of prestige. You stated that there must be a valid reason for invoking Rule 267; we have presented our reasons to you.”
He playfully added, “I asked you yesterday, but you seemed upset,” leading to a chorus of laughter from the audience.
credit : Sansad Tv
The Chairman, joining in the humor, quipped, “I have been married for over 45 years. I’m never upset,” which prompted another wave of laughter in the House.
He then referred to Congress leader P Chidambaram, saying, “Mr. Chidambaram, a distinguished senior advocate, will understand. As senior advocates, we don’t have the privilege to display our anger, especially to those in authority. And you (Kharge) are an authority, Sir.”
As the Chairman urged Mr. Kharge to modify his statement, the Congress president responded, “You might not show it, but you harbor inner anger.”
This exchange evoked more laughter, with the Chairman joining in.
Mr. Kharge persisted, reiterating that despite the Opposition’s arguments in favor of invoking Rule 267 for the discussion, the Chairman had asserted that there was no valid reason for it.
“This has now become a matter of prestige. We raise this issue daily, and the treasury benches oppose it. My suggestion is that you convene a meeting at 1 pm in your chamber. Meanwhile, the House can be adjourned. We can resolve this and reconvene at 2 pm,” he proposed.
The Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha then launched a sharp criticism against Mr. Dhankhar. “You reject even the smallest suggestion. We demanded the Prime Minister’s address in the House, but you declined. You are shielding the Prime Minister,” he asserted, leading to fervent protests from BJP members.
Responding to the Congress leader’s comments, the Chairman remarked, “We must be mindful of our context as a nation with a population exceeding 1.3 billion. We are a functioning and vibrant democracy, globally acknowledged. India stands alone as a constitutional democracy at the grassroots level. Our Prime Minister does not require my defense. He has achieved global recognition. Every Indian should take pride.”
