Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar Slams Opposition Walkout

Opposition protests, walks out throughout PM’s speech in Rajya Sabha.

New Delhi:

Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar has ripped into opposition MPs – who this afternoon joined their Lok Sabha colleagues in staging a vociferous protest in opposition to the ruling BJP – and mentioned their strolling out of the Home as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was talking had set a “harmful precedent”.

The MPs walked out after Mr Dhankhar initially refused Congress boss Mallikarjun Kharge, the Chief of the Opposition, permission to intervene as Mr Modi spoke. Loud chants of “LoP ko bolne do“, or “let the LoP communicate”, have been heard, as have been plaintive appeals from Mr Kharge, asking for permission.

Because the MPs walked out, Mr Dhankhar accused them of getting “disrespected” and “challenged” the Structure and “disregarded (and) insulted the oath they took”. “Khargeji insulted his oath by strolling out. They (the opposition) have made a mockery of the Structure. I hope they introspect,” he raged.

Mr Dhankhar additionally insisted he gave Mr Kharge ample time to answer the PM.

“I urged them… advised them LoP was given enough time to talk with out interruption. (However they did not hear). At this time they didn’t go away the Home… they left their dignity. At this time they didn’t present me their again… they confirmed it to the Structure. They insulted the oath they took. I’m pained by this,” he mentioned.

Rajya Sabha Chair Jagdeep Dhankhar and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge (File).

“They challenged the Structure. I’m damage to see such disrespect. They made a joke of the Structure. The Structure isn’t a guide to carry in your hand. I hope they may keep in mind their obligation…” he declared. 

The Home was adjourned after the PM’s speech and a Movement of Due to President Droupadi Murmu’s handle. As he closed proceedings, Mr Dhankhar criticised veteran MPs for “irresponsible” conduct.

“Disruption erodes status of this esteemed establishment. Even LoP walked into the Effectively… and that was a shame. Their stroll out was extraordinarily painful. It has set a harmful precedent,” he mentioned.

“We Walked Out As a result of…”

Talking to reporters exterior Parliament, Mr Kharge defined the opposition’s strolling out and lashed out on the Prime Minister, declaring, “It’s his behavior to lie and say issues past the reality…”

#WATCH | On the Opposition’s walkout from Rajya Sabha, Congress chief and LoP in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge says, “We walked out as a result of the PM was addressing the Home on the President’s handle and advised some mistaken issues to the Home. It is his behavior to lie and say issues… pic.twitter.com/K3ckOaWnbL

— ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2024

“”We walked out as a result of the PM was addressing the Home on the President’s handle and mentioned some mistaken issues… It’s his behavior to lie and say issues past the reality. I simply advised him… when he was talking in regards to the Structure… that you just did not make the Structure (and that) your individuals have been in opposition to it.”

Row Over Structure

The reference to the Structure as “not only a guide to carry in your hand” has been seen by many as a swipe at opposition leaders who took their oaths whereas holding a duplicate. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was amongst these to be sworn in with the Structure in his hand.

The Structure was a serious subject within the 2024 common election, with the Congress and different opposition events warning voters the BJP deliberate to alter key facets.

READ | Bharat Jodo Chants, Structure In Hand, Rahul Gandhi Takes Oath As MP

The BJP countered by flagging, as they do yearly, the Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The Emergency, Mr Modi mentioned final month, reminds us of how the Congress “subverted fundamental freedoms and trampled over the Structure, which each Indian respects vastly”.

The walkout additionally adopted Mr Modi’s “auto pilot” swipes at former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, who’s now a Rajya Sabha MP. Mrs Gandhi is ceaselessly accused by the BJP of working the UPA I and II governments, led by Dr Manmohan Singh, from behind the scenes.

Modi’s “Distant Management” Jab

Because the opposition walked out, Mr Modi took a swipe of his personal, mocking his rivals and critics for not listening to his reply to questions they’d raised. “The nation is watching… those that unfold lies would not have energy to listen to the reality. Those that would not have braveness to face reality… would not have braveness to take heed to solutions to questions… They’re insulting the wonderful custom of the Higher Home.”

READ | PM’s “Distant” Swipe At Sonia, Opposition Walks Out Of Rajya Sabha

On Tuesday it was the Lok Sabha that witnessed chaos – screaming MPs, an apoplectic Speaker, and a Prime Minister shouting on the high of his voice.

Mr Modi confronted a livid wall of noise from the second he started, with the opposition heckling and screaming at him on a spread of points – from his silence over the violent ethnic battle in Manipur to leaked query papers for the NEET-UG medical checks.

READ | Screaming Opposition Vs Shouting PM In Parliament Face-Off

And, in dramatic scenes Monday, the PM intervened, twice, as did union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh as Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, the Chief of the Opposition, delivered a fiery speech.

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