The Vice President said, some MPs are engaged in unwarranted defamation. (file)
New Delhi:
Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his comments about switching off the microphone in Parliament and said he would be on the “wrong side” of the Constitution if he remained silent on the issue. .
On the occasion of the release of a book written by veteran Congress leader and former MP Karan Singh on Mundak Upanishad, Dhankhar spoke at length on the remarks made by the former Congress President in London.
“The world is applauding our historic achievements and functional, vibrant democracy. Some of us, including parliamentarians, are engaged in overzealous, thoughtless, unwarranted desecration of our cherished democratic values,” he said.
Rahul Gandhi told British MPs in London on Monday that working microphones in the Lok Sabha are often silenced against the opposition.
He made the remarks during an event organized by Indian-origin veteran opposition Labor Party MP Virendra Sharma in the Grand Committee Room of the House of Commons complex.
The Vice President in his address said, “How can we justify such a fabricated event of factually unverified narrative and mark the time… India is having a proud moment as the Chair of the G20. And the people of the country are working fast.” to defame us. It is very serious and extraordinary to condone such wrong campaign mode to tarnish our Parliament and Constitution.”
“No political strategy or partisan stand can justify compromising on our nationalism and democratic values. I am in front of a great soul, my silence on this audacity… If I am to blame on this orchestration by a Member of Parliament outside the country silence which is ill-premeditated and motivated, I would be on the wrong side of the Constitution. It would be a constitutional blunder and a dishonor of my oath,” he said.
Vice President Dhankhar said that Emergency was a dark chapter of Indian democracy, but democracy has now matured and cannot be repeated.
“How can I sanctify the statement that the mike has been switched off in the Indian Parliament? How dare they say that? We had a dark chapter in our history, the proclamation of emergency. The darkest phase of any democracy May have to suffer. But Indian democratic politics has matured now. It cannot be repeated.
Stating that anyone who says this inside or outside the country is an insult to the nation, he said, “Imagine this is being done after being in the House for almost 50 minutes. Our democratic fabric Any audacity to demolish. Values cannot be ignored.”
“I am not a stakeholder in politics. I am not involved in partisan stand. But I believe in constitutional duty… If I observe silence, most of the people who believe in this country will remain silent forever. Will go. We can’t.” Allow such narrative to gain circulation and momentum,” the Vice President said.
Vice President Dhankhar also reacted to reports alleging that his “personal staff” has been “attached” to parliamentary standing committees and department-related standing committees.
“You know the importance of committees. I got inputs from many members and chairpersons of committees to do something positive to improve productivity. So, I intensified the human resources associated with committees. I hired research-oriented, knowledgeable people. placed so that they can help committee members optimize output and performance,” he said.
“But a story has been spread by some sections of the media that the Speaker has appointed its members to committees. Has anyone checked the facts? Committees consist of Members of Parliament. It is their exclusive domain,” he said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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