Dhankhar said that the Congress leader's refusal to meet him during the Winter session was not in sync with parliamentary practices.
Published Dec 22, 2023 | 3:50 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 22, 2023 | 3:50 PM
Mallikarjun Kharge. (Twitter)
Rendering the House dysfunctional by making a demand to the Chair that cannot be acceded is unfortunate and against the public interest, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar is learnt to have said in a letter to Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, on Friday, 22 December.
Dhankhar has written to Kharge stating that the Congress leader’s refusal to meet him during the Winter Session of Parliament was not in sync with parliamentary practices and has also sought interaction with him, sources said.
This comes a day after the Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Thursday, a day ahead of schedule.
The Upper House witnessed repeated protests by Opposition MPs who were demanding a discussion on the 13 December Parliament security breach and a statement by Home Minister Amit Shah on the issue.
The protests led to the suspension of 46 MPs from the House for the session. A breach of privilege notice was moved against Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien and the matter was referred to the Privileges Committee.
Citing the letter, the sources said Dhankhar expressed “pain” that his efforts to hold a meeting with Kharge to ensure smooth functioning of the House could not find the Congress leader’s favour.
Interaction with the presiding officer is of high priority as per the parliamentary mechanism, Dhankhar said.
He also said that he looks forward to an interaction with the leader of the Opposition for a healthy way forward.
The three frenetic weeks of the Parliament’s Winter session saw a security breach in the Lok Sabha, the suspension of 146 MPs and the expulsion of Trinamool Congress member Mahua Moitra in the “bribe-for-query” case.
The session, which began on 4 December, saw both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha running largely peacefully for the first week but things changed after 13 December.
On the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack, two people jumped into the chamber of the Lok Sabha from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow smoke from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by some of the MPs.
The Opposition INDIA bloc is holding a nationwide protest on Friday against the suspension of the MPs from Parliament.
Addressing a press conference after the INDIA bloc meeting on 19 December Kharge said, “If we have to save the democracy we will have to fight together and all of us are ready for this fight.”
On Friday, the Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, along with NCP MP Sharad Pawar, and CPIM MP Sitaram Yechury participated in the protest at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi speaking at the protest said, the first question is, “How did the intruders enter the Parliament?”
He added, “If they were able to bring gas canisters, they could even bring something else.”
He further added the protest was done due to unemployment. “There is maximum unemployment in the country.”
Questioning the media, Rahul Gandhi asked, “Media is busy criticising Rahul Gandhi, they don’t question the government either on the security breach, or unemployment.”
He added, “Suspending the 146 MPs means 70 percent of the population is suspended, it means shutting their voices.”
(With PTI inputs)
