Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar | File photo | Photo Credit: ANI
a day later Hindu informed of On Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar’s order appointing secretarial staff to standing committees under the Upper House, the Vice President said the decision was prompted by “multi-level consultations”.
“I got inputs from many members and chairmen of committees to do something positive to improve productivity. So, I intensified the human resources associated with the committees. and optimize performance,” he said while speaking at a book launch event at his residence in Delhi.
He underlined that committees are the exclusive domain of Members of Parliament and appointments made by them will not serve as members. “I have taken action because the Speaker and members came to me and I am doing it after multi-level consultations,” he said.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh opposed Mr Dhankhar’s remarks and said no such discussion took place.
“The Rajya Sabha Chairman has said that his controversial move to attach his staff to various committees was after consultation with the respective Chairmen. I chair a standing committee and I can categorically say that I was not consulted on the call,” Mr Ramesh tweeted.