BJP Calls INDIA Bloc’s Resolution to Remove Vice President Dhankhar ‘Extremely Regrettable’

BJP Calls INDIA Bloc’s Resolution: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday termed "extremely regretful" the act of the Opposition INDIA bloc in moving a notice for removal of the Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Addressing media persons, Rijiju, a minister of state for parliamentary affairs, extolled the vice president, who also chairs the Rajya Sabha, as extremely "professional and impartial."

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He also condemned the Opposition members by saying they disrespected the dignity of the Chair in the Rajya Sabha, as also at the Lok Sabha.

“The Opposition disrespect the dignity of Chair, be it in Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha... Congress party and their alliance continuously behaved wrongly by not following the direction of the Chair. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji comes from a humble background. He always talks about farmers' and people's welfare inside and outside the parliament. He guides us. We respect him,” Rijiju was quoted as saying by ANI.

“The notice that has been served - I condemn the step of those 60 MPs who have signed the notice. NDA has the majority and we all have faith in the chairman. We are happy with the way he guides the House...” the parliamentary affairs minister said.

Some 60 opposition MPs on Tuesday presented a notice for removal from the office of Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman from Jagdeep Dhankhar which they accused of having in his short term been marred with cases that he “acted in a manner that is explicitly partisan and unfair towards members belonging to the Opposition”.

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"The manner in which the Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar conducts parliamentary affairs of the Rajya Sabha is extremely partisan. It is a matter of record that Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar has repeatedly interrupted members of the Opposition while they are speaking, unfairly used privilege motions to silence leaders of the Opposition, and openly delegitimized dissent with respect to the actions of the Government in the utmost disparaging manner,” the MPs said in their notice submitted to Rajya Sabha secretary general PC Mody.

The opposition does not have the requisite numbers in the 243-member House, so the motion will need a simple majority to get it passed.

This however opposition members have insisted is a good "strong message to fight for parliamentary democracy". No vice president has ever been impeached in India.

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