"If I Don't React...": Vice President On Sonia Gandhi's "Judiciary" Remark

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday said he would have abjudicated his oath and failed in his constitutional obligation had he not reacted.

With Opposition Congress seeking removal of the chair's comments on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's "delegitimise judiciary" remark, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday said he would have abjudicated his oath and failed in his constitutional obligation had he not reacted.

Senior Congress leader Pramod Tiwai raised the issue in the House, and his senior colleague and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge sought, "If a Lok Sabha Member (Sonia Gandhi) talks outside, it should not be discussed in Rajya Sabha. If the chair comments, it is unfortunate. This has never happened...Whatever is said here should be removed and withdrawn. Kindly expunge it." If it is not expunged, it will set a bad precedent, he added.

Union Minister and Leader of the House Piyush Goyal said Mr Kharge should reflect that aspersions were cast on the House and high constitutional authority, a person elected by both houses of Parliament, and who is the Vice President of India.

Some other members too made remarks on the issue.