Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankar on Thursday convened a meeting of the floor leaders in both Houses of the Parliament on Thursday. This was after the Chairman was forced to leave the upper house amidst a continuous uproar from the opposition benches who were raising the Vinesh Phogat disqualification.
Dhankar said that the “scene” created in the House was “unprecedented, indigestible”. “It is our bounden duty to take tough decisions. Sublimity has been misunderstood as fragility, persuasion has been misunderstood as weakness,” he added.
Earlier, Dhankar stopped presiding over the house for a brief while on Thursday and left the House saying that he did not “get the support he should have received.” This came after the members of the opposition walked out after their demand to discuss the disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat from the Paris Olympics 2024 was not taken up for discussion in the House.
“Making this sacred House a centre of anarchy, attacking Indian democracy, tarnishing the dignity of the post of the Speaker, this is not just indecent conduct, this is conduct that crosses all limits… What I have been seeing in recent days and the way the challenge is being given through words, letters, through newspapers, how many wrong comments have been made. This challenge is not being given to me but this challenge is being given to the post of the Chairman. And this challenge is being given because they (opposition) think that the person sitting on this post is not worthy of it…” Dhankar said.
Dhankar expressed anguish at opposition members showing “disrespect” to the Chair. “For some time…unable to sit, (leaving) with heavy heart,” he said. On his leaving the House, the Chairman said that he was not “running away” from his oath.
“You set aflame democratic traditions…insult to the chair,” the Rajya Sabha chairman said referring to the protests in the House.
INDIA Bloc MPs staged a protest at Parliament on Wednesday also seeking justice for wrestler Vinesh Phogat following her disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024 hours before the final. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala also raised questions on the ‘silence’ of the government.
“The whole country is hopeful that she will rise again and fight. But why is the Government of India silent?” Congress MP Surjewala said.
MP Randeep Surjewala further urged the Indian Olympic Association should talk to the International Olympic Association talk to the International Olympic Association.
“The previous day when she won three matches, her weight was less than 50 kg. So if the weight is more on the next day then how can it affect the previous day’s win? Indian Olympic Association should talk to the International Olympic Association,” MP Surjewala said.
Surjewala further added, “Not only to Vinesh, this medal belongs to the whole country and BJP needs to understand that.”