NEW DELHI: There was pandemonium in Rajya Sabha on Friday as BJP MPs clashed with opposition members over the no-confidence motion against Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar who himself had an angry exchange with LoP Mallikarjun Kharge, before the House was adjourned for the day.
As Congress MPs accused him of behaving in an extremely partisan manner, Dhankhar said, “I’m a farmer’s son and will not show any weakness.” He added, “I will sacrifice my life for my country. You (opposition) have only one job 24 hours a day. Why is a farmer’s son sitting here? Look at what you are saying. I have tolerated a lot… You have the right to bring a motion but you are insulting the Constitution.”
Kharge responded by saying that he was the son of a labourer. “I have faced more challenges than you. We are not here to listen to your praise. You are allowing everyone from the ruling party to speak, you are letting them insult our party. You have a responsibility to run the House but you are purposely encouraging them,” he said.
Dhankhar hit back, saying “the whole world knows whose praise you like”. He said the opposition was targeting him because of the “category” he came from.
Earlier, several MPs from the treasury benches accused Congress leaders of insulting the son of a farmer. They said that while there was a provision for bringing a no-confidence motion against the chairman, a 14-day notice had to be given before a discussion on the issue. “They are entitled to bring a motion against me. This is their constitutional right but they are deviating from the constitutional provisions. I have gone through everything that is projected through the public domain. Why cannot we follow the Constitution?” the chairman said. Dhankhar later asked Kharge and leader of the House J P Nadda to see him in his chamber later in the day so that the logjam in the House could be ended before adjourning the proceedings till Monday.