New Delhi, Dec 12: During a session on Thursday, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the Rajya Sabha for what he described as the “trampling of democracy,” alleging misuse of authority by Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and questioning his neutral stance.
Kharge claimed that the Chairman has systematically stifled the voices of Opposition members through “persistent heckling, unnecessary demands for authentication, unfair comments, and a refusal to allow discussions on critical public issues.”
This strong denunciation follows a notice submitted by the Opposition INDIA bloc, predominantly led by the Congress, seeking a no-confidence motion against Dhankhar, whom they accuse of being excessively biased.
On Tuesday, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Naseer Hussain submitted the notice to Rajya Sabha Secretary General P.C. Mody, with signatures from 60 opposition MPs across parties including Congress, RJD, TMC, CPI, CPI-M, JMM, AAP, DMK, and Samajwadi Party.
In a post on social media platform X, Kharge expressed concern over the prevailing suppression of the Opposition’s “right to speak” and “express opinions” in the Rajya Sabha, stating, “The undermining of ‘democracy’ and ‘truth’ has sadly become the modus operandi, where assault on established parliamentary norms is encouraged and ethical behavior disregarded.” He emphasized that their commitment to uphold the Constitution and protect the integrity of Parliament remains resolute despite these challenges.
Kharge stated, “We refuse to bow down. We stand firm in defending the democratic rights of every citizen and our sacred Constitution.” He added that he had been denied the opportunity to address the House and intends to outline ten reasons for the Opposition’s “no confidence” stance regarding the Chairman’s conduct and the Rajya Sabha’s functionality.
He highlighted concerns over Dhankhar’s impartiality, noting that the Chairman’s actions have frequently involved harsh criticism of the Opposition and misuse of his powers. Kharge accused Dhankhar of continuously “suppressing” the freedoms of Opposition MPs using tactics like unrelenting heckling and unjust refusals to discuss significant public matters.
He pointed out that the Chairman has previously enforced mass suspensions of members, extending these measures beyond individual sessions—an alarming precedent. “The Chairman has often criticized Opposition leaders publicly, echoing the ruling party’s views. He has also taken it upon himself to reprimand senior Opposition members, misusing the chair’s dignity to promote his political affiliations with the RSS, even proclaiming, ‘I am the Eklavya of RSS,’ which contradicts constitutional values,” Kharge alleged.
He accused the Chairman of excessive favoritism toward the ruling party and remarked that Dhankhar has compared the Prime Minister to Mahatma Gandhi, while rejecting the Opposition’s request for accountability from the Prime Minister. He also criticized the Chairman’s comments on Opposition walkouts, which are a traditional parliamentary method.
“He regularly and unjustly expunges critical parts of speeches made by Opposition members, including those of the Leader of the Opposition,” Kharge asserted.
“The Chairman has never allowed discussions under Rule 267 or permitted Opposition members to clarify their notices, while ruling party representatives often face no such restrictions,” he added.
Furthermore, Kharge suggested that coverage by Sansad Television displays clear bias, often failing to show the Opposition members adequately. “During speeches by Opposition leaders, the camera often focuses on the Chairman instead. Additionally, telecast protocols have been amended without proper consultation with the General Purposes Committee, which includes representatives from all parties,” he explained.
Kharge also noted that short-duration discussions and calls for attention are seldom addressed, contrasting this with the UPA period when such sessions were regularly held. “Under the current regime, there have been no Half-an-Hour Discussions or Statutory Resolutions from Opposition members. Additionally, bills frequently circumvent the Department-Related Standing Committees for detailed review,” he stated.
He concluded by alleging that Opposition members are barred from requesting clarifications on ministers’ statements, a practice that was traditionally acceptable in the Rajya Sabha. “The Chairman has made unilateral decisions on significant issues, including statue relocations and security changes, without consulting the necessary committees. The General Purposes and Rules Committees have not convened during his term,” he added. (Agencies)
