New Delhi: Several opposition parties on Wednesday said the "partisan" conduct of Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar prompted them to move a notice for his removal as vice president and alleged that politics has taken precedence over rules in the Upper House of Parliament.
Addressing a press conference at the Constitution Club here, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that Dhankhar is working as a government spokesperson and acting like a school headmaster, often sermonising experienced opposition leaders and preventing them from speaking in the House.
Kharge also claimed that Dhankhar himself is responsible for the disruptions in the House. "The Rajya Sabha chairman's conduct has been contrary to the dignity of the post he holds. He targets opposition leaders and often praises the government," Kharge said. "Politics has taken precedence over rules in the Rajya Sabha and the chairman has indulged in partisan behaviour," he alleged.
The Congress chief said since 1952, no resolution has been brought against the vice president under Article 67 of the Constitution as those who held the post previously never indulged in politics and remained unbiased. "The notice for the Rajya Sabha chairman's removal is not about personal grievances or political battles. We are fed up with his behaviour and partiality. That is why we have given the notice for his removal," he said.
"This is not just a breach of protocol but a betrayal of the Constitution and the people of India," Kharge added. He said the opposition parties have nothing against Dhankhar, "but he left us with no option but to go ahead with the notice for his removal". "The Rajya Sabha chairman's conduct in the House has harmed the country's dignity," he alleged.
"We appeal to the people of India to understand that this notice has been filed after thorough consideration and deliberations, with the sole purpose of safeguarding the Constitution and protecting the integrity of our parliamentary democracy," Kharge said.
DMK leader Tiruchi Siva said there is a blatant attack on the country's democracy in Parliament by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Nadimul Haque said he agrees with the leader of opposition. "We are not allowed to express ourselves in the Rajya Sabha," Haque said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, "It seems that the chairman is not running Parliament but a circus. He eats up the time by speaking himself." "There is a blatant attack on the democracy by the ruling party in Parliament. In parliamentary democracy, the leader of the House and the leader of opposition are two pillars and whenever the LoP stands up to speak, the floor is immediately given to the opposition leader and no one will speak," Siva said.
TMC's Sagarika Ghose, RJD's Manoj Jha, Javed Ali Khan of the SP, NCP (SP) leader Fauzia Khan and Sarfaraz Ahmad of the JMM, among others, were present on the dais at the press conference.
