‘Painful, unbelievable’: Rajya Sabha chairman Dhankhar on LoP Kharge protesting in Well of House
‘Painful, unbelievable’: Rajya Sabha chairman Dhankhar on LoP Kharge protesting in Well of House
As the Rajya Sabha witnessed repeated adjournments amid uproar by opposition parties demanding immediate discussion on the alleged irregularities in NEET, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar Friday expressed anguish over the situation prevailing in the House saying "it was painful for him" to see Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge entering the Well to protest.
When the Rajya Sabha reassembled at 2:30 pm after the third adjournment, DMK member Tiruchi Siva informed the House that Congress MP Phulo Devi Netam had fainted earlier because of blood pressure.
In response, Dhankhar said, "I have taken all steps, suspended the working of the House. All arrangements were made and that was the most that could be done. Everything is being taken care of."
Further expressing surprise at the turn of events in the House, he said it was "unbelievable" that Leader of Opposition entered the Well of the House to protest.
"It was very painful for me, unbelievable for me, that Mallikarjun Kharge, a leader with Parliamentary experience of over five decades, having held the position of Leader of Opposition both in the state and in Parliament walking into the Well of the House," Dhankar said.
"The deputy leader of the party Pramod Tiwari also walked in, and senior leader Mukul Wasnik also walked in. It was a very painful moment for me. We expect the Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the House to exemplify their conduct that is worth emulating," he added.
Dhankar went on to say that what hurt him the most was that Kharge has "misreported, misrepresented and spoken untruth outside".
"He (Kharge) came to the Well the entire House saw. But what is more painful, hurtful for me, is that he has outside, misreported, misrepresented and has spoken untruth... He is in denial mode and his statement which has been put on Twitter (now X) ... is self-contradictory," the Rajya Sabha Chairman said.
"At one point of time, he says that he did not get into the Well... Now the second part is far more serious. What I have seen is that this institution was tarnished, tainted and demeaned. It was the worst sacrilege that could be committed for this temple of democracy and if this happens from those who have to lead as custodians of the order, nothing can be more unfortunate."
Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha was adjourned Friday noon until Monday after the Opposition insisted on a discussion on the alleged leak of the NEET question paper as the Speaker said a discussion on the Presidential address had to be taken first. In the lower house, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi raised the NEET issue and demanded, along with other Opposition MPs, that the matter be discussed.
With PTI inputs
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