‘Diversionary Tactics’: Centre Condemns Opposition’s No-Confidence Motion Against RS Chairman

Last Updated:December 10, 2024, 18:06 IST

This is the first time that a notice for bringing a motion to remove the Vice President has been moved in the Rajya Sabha.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. (ANI)

The BJP-led union government on Tuesday hit out at opposition for submitting notice of no-confidence against Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, saying that the notice is just a diversionary tactics of the opposition.

The INDIA bloc has moved the motion against Dhankhar accusing him of bias and ‘partisan functioning’. The opposition claimed that he favoured the ruling party during House proceedings and stifled their voice.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju slammed the Congress-led INDIA bloc for disrespecting the dignity of chair of both the houses during the ongoing winter session of the Parliament.

“I condemn the step of those 60 MPs who have signed the notice. The opposition disrespect the dignity of Chair, be it in Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha… Congress party and their alliance continuously behaved wrongly by not following the direction of the Chair," he said.

He praised the Vice President, saying, “Dhankhar Ji comes from a humble background. He always talks about farmers’ and people’s welfare inside and outside the parliament. He guides us. We respect him. The notice that has been served NDA has the majority and we all have faith in the chairman. We are happy with the way he guides the House…"

60 MPs Signed Notice Against Dhankhar

On behalf of the opposition, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Naseer Hussain submitted the notice signed by 60 opposition MPs — including from the Congress, RJD, TMC, CPI, CPI-M, JMM, AAP, DMK, Samajwadi Party — to Rajya Sabha Secretary General P C Mody.

This is the first time that a notice for bringing a motion to remove the Vice President has been moved in the Rajya Sabha. A 14-day notice has to be given and it should be approved by the Deputy Chairman before the motion is taken up.

INDIA bloc leaders had earlier said the opposition parties had required signatures from all INDIA bloc parties in August itself but did not move as they decided to give Dhankhar “another chance but his conduct on Monday" convinced them to go ahead with it.

Though the no-confidence motion is expected to be defeated given the strength of MPs from the ruling and opposition sides, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh announced that the motion had been submitted to the Secretary-General of the Rajya Sabha. He said that the opposition was compelled to take this step in the “interest of parliamentary democracy."

Earlier Incidents

Similar notices for removal of the Speaker of Lok Sabha have been submitted in the past, but none against the Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman.

Three motions have come in the past against Lok Sabha Speakers – against G V Mavalankar on December 18, 1954, against Hukam Singh on November 24, 1966 and against Balram Jakhar on April 15, 1987.

While the motions against Mavalankar and Jahar were negatived, that against Hukam Singh was rejected as less than 50 members rose in the chair to take up the motion.

Parliament Witnessing Regular Disruptions

Both the Houses of Parliament- Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha- have witnessed regular disruption since the beginning of the winter season. While the BJP upped the ante against Congress leadership for their alleged connection with “anti-India" George Soros, the grand old party continued its tirade against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government over several issues.

The notice was submitted on Tuesday after chaos erupted in both the houses amid uproar over the BJP accusing top Congress leaders of colluding with Soros to destabilise the country. Both the houses were adjourned within an hour.

News politics ‘Diversionary Tactics’: Centre Condemns Opposition’s No-Confidence Motion Against RS Chairman