A day after giving a notice in the Rajya Sabha for a motion to remove the Vice-President and chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, the joint Opposition on Wednesday alleged the latter was the biggest reason behind disruptions of the House and was acting like a spokesperson of the government.
“Biggest reason for disruptions in Rajya Sabha is the chairman himself. He’s working as government spokesperson,” said Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge at a joint press conference by INDIA bloc leaders. He said they were forced to take the step to save democracy as the “Chairman is the biggest disrupter of Rajya Sabha” and “his conduct has damaged the pride of the nation”.
Kharge recalled that the position of Vice-President was the second highest constitutional position in the country. He emphasised that no resolution to remove a Vice President had been brought since 1952, as those holding the position were “unbiased and beyond politics” and “always ran the House as per the rules.”
A 14-day notice has to be given and it should be approved by the Deputy Chairman before the motion is taken up. “We are disappointed that in the 75th year of independence, biased behaviour has forced us to bring a no-confidence motion,” he added.
“We have nothing against the RS chairman, but he left us with no option but to go ahead with notice for his removal. Since 1952, no resolution has been brought under Article 67 as V-P never indulged in politics. But now politics has taken precedence over rules in RS and the chairman has indulged in partisan behaviour,” alleged Kharge.
He said the chairman acts like a school headmaster, gives sermons to experienced Opposition leaders and stops them from speaking. However, the government has called the notice a ploy to distract from the issue of alleged links between Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Hungarian-American businessman George Soros.