Vice-President Dhankhar Stays Resolute Against Opposition Push for His Removal
New Delhi, 12th December 2024: On Wednesday, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar remained resolute despite ongoing calls for his removal from the position of Rajya Sabha chairman. While opposition parties continued their push against him, the BJP and its allies strongly defended Dhankhar, urging Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to apologize for allegedly insulting a “son of the soil” who has upheld the dignity of the House.
Speaking at a public event in Jaipur, Dhankhar highlighted the challenges posed by “internal and external forces” that are unable to accept India’s progress. He accused these forces of trying to “divide the nation and insult its institutions” with a coordinated effort. “The common man has a key role to play in this. We must unite to neutralize every anti-national narrative,” he emphasized.
The timing of the opposition’s motion to remove Dhankhar appeared uncertain, as it was submitted on Tuesday, with the Winter Session concluding on December 20. The short timeline suggests the motion is unlikely to meet the required 14-day notice period, making its success improbable.
Dhankhar chaired the Rajya Sabha proceedings on Wednesday and responded unperturbed when Congress MP Jairam Ramesh pointed out the notice against him. “I am aware of it,” he said as he proceeded with the session.
While the treasury and opposition benches continued their clash, with MPs alleging links between Sonia Gandhi and George Soros, Dhankhar remarked that he was unsure whom the opposition was trying to protect. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, permitted by Dhankhar to speak, accused Congress of aligning with anti-India elements, particularly citing alleged ties between Soros and Sonia Gandhi. Rijiju praised Dhankhar for his commitment to farmers, the poor, and the Constitution, defending the integrity of the Chair against what he called “baseless” opposition allegations.
Despite accusations of bias towards the government, Dhankhar continued to express support for the Modi administration. Speaking at the India Maritime Heritage Conclave 2024 in Delhi shortly after the Rajya Sabha session, he commended the government’s progress under Prime Minister Modi, noting the numerous achievements of the past decade.
Outside Parliament, BJP leaders rallied behind Dhankhar, emphasizing his Jat farmer background. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan called for Kharge to apologize on behalf of Congress, accusing the opposition of disrespecting democracy by disrupting Parliament. Pradhan pointed out that a no-confidence motion against the Chairman had never been attempted before, labelling it a violation of the dignity of Parliament.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also condemned the opposition’s actions, defending Dhankhar as a humble farmer’s son. He claimed the timing of the motion was politically motivated, following the BJP’s focus on the alleged connections between the Nehru-Gandhi family and Soros. Patra also defended Jats, asserting their historical contribution to India’s freedom and criticizing the opposition for attempting to undermine Dhankhar’s work.
