Vice President Dhankhar criticized Rahul Gandhi at a book launch event. (file)
New Delhi:
The Congress on Thursday hit out at Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar for his criticism of Rahul Gandhi’s remarks in the UK, saying the Rajya Sabha chairman is an umpire and cannot be a cheerleader for any ruling party.
The Congress reaction came after Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar attacked Mr Gandhi for his remarks regarding 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. I will be
In a statement, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said that at an event on the occasion of the release of a book on Thursday, the vice president made some comments on Rahul Gandhi’s speech in the United Kingdom.
“There are certain offices that require us to give up our prejudices, our party allegiances and force ourselves to distance ourselves from whatever publicity we may have.
Ramesh said, “The office of the Vice-President of India, an office to which the Constitution confers the additional responsibility of being the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, is foremost among them.”
He said that the Vice President’s statement on Mr. Gandhi was surprising to say the least.
Ramesh said, “That he (Jagdeep Dhankhar) came to the rescue of a government that constitutionally requires him to stay at arms-distance and the like was confusing as well as disappointing.”
He said that Rahul Gandhi has not said anything abroad which he has not said many times here. “And unlike some other individuals, his stance doesn’t differ depending on where he sits,” Mr. Ramesh said.
The Congress leader argued that Mr Gandhi’s statement was factual and representative of the reality on the ground. He said, “In the last two weeks, more than twelve Members of Parliament belonging to opposition parties have been served notices of breach of privilege to protest the silencing of their voices in Parliament, which is inconvenient for the ruling dispensation.”
He alleged that in the last eight years, channels and newspapers have been blacked out, raided and intimidated to such an extent that only the government is being raised.
He claimed that the institutions which had maintained a studied distance from the governments of the past have now become subservient to such an extent that they choke on any order or rebuttal to the ruling regime.
Ramesh said, “Those who dissent are punished. There may not be a declaration of emergency, but make no mistake, the actions of this regime are not those of a secure government that respects the constitution.”
He alleged that the Vice President’s remarks on the occasion as well as some previous remarks only underscored this point.
He said that in times like these, to fear dissent would be a betrayal of the Constitution our founding fathers fought for.
“We in the Indian National Congress have been the most consistent voice in opposition to this regime and will continue to do so,” Mr. Ramesh said.
“The Speaker, however, is an umpire, a referee, a friend, philosopher and guide to all. He cannot be a cheerleader for any ruling dispensation. History does not measure leaders by the zeal with which they defend their party. He did it, but with dignity. He played his part in the service of the people,” the Congress general secretary said.
KC Venugopal, in-charge of Congress General Secretary Organization, also targeted the Vice President by tweeting.
“Misrepresenting parliamentary proceedings is unbecoming of the office of the Vice President,” he said.
Venugopal said, “Opposition MPs’ mics are regularly switched off, and proceedings reached a new low in the last session when the Lok Sabha Speaker rejected Rahul Gandhiji’s allegations on the Adani scam.”
He said that instead of denying anything that comes to the fore in public, the Vice President should ensure that the opposition is given enough space to raise issues of public importance, however inconvenient they may be to PM Modi’s government. Don’t
Speaking on the occasion of the release of the book on Mundak Upanishad by Congress veteran and former MP Karan Singh,
Shri Dhankhar spoke at length on the remarks made by the former Congress President in London.
He said, “The world is applauding our historical achievements and functional, vibrant democracy. Some of us, including parliamentarians, without thinking, are engaged in unwarranted disrespect to our cherished democratic values.”
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.
In his address, the Vice President 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 with great enthusiasm.” to defame us. It is very serious and extraordinary to ignore 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 see silence on this orchestration by a Member of Parliament outside the country which is ill-premeditated and motivated, I will be on the wrong side of the Constitution. It would be a constitutional blunder and an insult to my oath,” Mr Dhankhar said in an apparent reference to Mr Gandhi’s remark.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
featured video of the day
Exclusive: NASA’s first woman chief talks to NDTV on human spaceflight plan