RS adjourns as Oppn., treasury Benches trade charges over no-confidence motion against Jagdeep Dhankar

Opposition parties on December 10 gave a notice to move a motion to impeach Mr. Dhankhar over his alleged partisan role as the Chairperson of the Upper House.

Rajya Sabha proceedings on Wednesday (December 11, 2024) were adjourned in the pre-noon session without transacting any business as Opposition and treasury Benches traded charges over the impeachment notice against the House Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Opposition parties on Tuesday gave a notice to move a motion to impeach Mr. Dhankhar over his alleged partisan role as the Chairperson of the Upper House.

Soon after listed official papers were laid on the table of the House, Mr. Dhankhar gave the floor to Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju to speak and said he would allow Deputy Leader of the Congress party Pramod Tiwari to speak thereafter.

But MPs from both sides rose in their respective seats, shouting slogans and counter slogans.

Mr. Rijiju attacked the Congress over the impeachment notice, calling the allegations against the Chair baseless. When his turn came, Mr. Tiwari could hardly speak a sentence when the Chairman adjourned the proceedings till 12 p.m.

After the laying of the papers, the Chair said he had received five notices under rule 267 that seek to set aside the business of the day to discuss the issue being raised through them.

He began mentioning the names of the MPs who had moved the notices when treasury Benches and Opposition MPs started rising in their places. He then gave the floor to Mr. Rijiju to speak.

The minister said Mr. Dhankhar, a son of farmer, has been a protector of the dignity of the House.

"Opposition does not believe in democracy. It does not obey the Chair," he said. "You level baseless allegations (against the chair). You have no right to be a member of Rajya Sabha if you cannot honour and obey the Chair."

He went on to state that the treasury Benches will defend any move to attack the honour and dignity of the Chair. "We will not allow this."

Mr. Rijiju, thereafter, raised the issue of alleged nexus between U.S. hedge fund tycoon George Soros and Congress that, ruling party has alleged poses a threat to national security.

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has alleged links with George Soros who funds Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) that puts out anti-India content, he claimed.

"You are working with them. You speak the same language as them. You stand with anti-India forces and then you give notice against the chairman," he said, but did not offer any proof to substantiate his allegations except for an international media report that claimed OCCRP was funded by a U.S. agency.

He said Mr. Dhankhar is one person who has stood for the farmer and the poor. He has taken the lead to protect the constitution. "We feel honoured that he is in the Chair. We will not allow any attempt to harm the dignity of the Chair," he said, asking for the links between Soros and Gandhi to be revealed in the house.

"I condemn the Congress party," he added.

Mr. Dhankhar then gave floor to former prime minister and JDS leader H.D. Deve Gowda but he couldn't be heard as the Opposition started shouting slogans.

The chair then called Mr. Tiwari to speak.

Mr. Tiwari alleged that the ruling BJP wants to change the Constitution. But before he could complete, Mr. Dhankhar adjourned the proceedings till 12 pm.

Published - December 11, 2024 12:23 pm IST