Dhankhar says disruptions in Parliament not sending good signals

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar also referred to adjournments of proceedings that Opposition MPs forced on December 13, 15 and 16 to press for a discussion on the China border row

Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar on December 19 said disruptions of House proceedings were not sending good signals and that he has asked certain MPs to see him in his chamber over last week's disruptions.

Mr. Dhankhar rejected notices seeking a discussion on Chinese incursion on Indian borders saying they were not drafted in accordance with the rules, leading to almost the entire Opposition staging a walkout of the House.

Leader of the Opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the Chairman has all powers and can allow for a discussion but Mr. Dhankhar wasn't impressed.

When the House met for the day, the Chairman said he has received 9 notices under rule 267 that called for the suspension of the listed business and taking up a discussion or debate on the matter indicated therein.

Without disclosing either the contents or the movers of the notices, Mr. Dhankhar said he cannot give attention to any notice that is "deficient" or that "miserably fails minimum requirement of the fulfilment of rules."

Stating that Mr. Dhankhar had on December 8 laid down the methodology for giving notices under rule 267, he said none of the 9 notices measured up to the requirement.

"It is a painful duty for me that not only the rule is outraged, no attention whatsoever has been laid on the rule. The notices are drawn in a manner as if the rule doesn't exist. I expect the members to follow the procedure indicated in the rule, go through all the two essential elements and then carve out notice," he said.