Opposition walkout, boycott over Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar’s ‘tone’

Opposition boycotts Rajya Sabha over derogatory remarks, leading to censure motion and heated exchanges with Chairman Dhankhar.

The Opposition boycotted Rajya Sabha proceedings on the final day of Parliament’s Budget session, after a serious disagreement with Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on alleged derogatory remarks made against Leader of Opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge by BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari. The treasury benches moved a censure motion against the Opposition’s conduct, with allies calling for punitive measures against Opposition leaders. 

There was a sharp exchange of words between Mr. Dhankhar and Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan, who criticised the Chairman’s “tone” and “body-language”.

The confrontation began at noon, the beginning of the Question Hour, when the Congress’ Chief Whip Jairam Ramesh asked about the status of the Chairman’s ruling on a written complaint from the Congress asking him to expunge Mr. Tiwari’s remarks against Mr. Kharge, made on August 1.

Mr. Dhankhar said that the BJP member had actually praised Mr. Kharge in Sanskrit. Noting that “people don’t apologise when they praise”, he claimed that the matter had already been amicably sorted out between the two in his presence in his chamber.

However, Mr. Kharge insisted on a clarification on the floor of the House. “You should say the same thing you have explained to me in the chamber… It is better that you do it in the House,” he said. The Opposition then clamoured for an apology from Mr. Tiwari, with DMK MP Tiruchi Siva and Congress MP Pramod Tiwari both explaining that the BJP MP’s tone and tenor had been derogatory. 

At this point, the Chairman allowed Ms. Bachchan to speak, calling her the last speaker on the issue. “Main kalakar hoon, body language samajhti hoon, expression samajhti hoon... par sir, mujhe maaf kariyega magar apka tone jo hai (I am an artist, I understand body language and expression. Forgive me but your tone) is not acceptable. We are colleagues sir, [though] you may be sitting on the chair,” she said.

Mr. Dhankhar hit back, saying he did not want to be schooled. “You may be anybody. You may be a celebrity. You have to understand the decorum. I will not bear it. Never carry an impression that only you build reputations. We come here with reputations. We live up to reputations,” he retorted.