Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Dec 9: Several members of the opposition INDIA bloc, who are critical of the Congress on several issues, have become united on moving a no confidence motion against the Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar for his alleged “partisan functioning.”
According to sources, all opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Samajwadi Party (SP), have signed the motion, which will be moved under Article 67(B) of the Constitution.
The Opposition has been at odds with the Rajya Sabha chairman over multiple issues. Matters came to a head on Monday when the BJP members accused top Congress leaders of colluding with billionaire investor George Soros to destabilise the country.
When Mr Dhankhar asked why the ruling party members were protesting, many BJP MPs alleged that the top Congress leadership has links with Soros. They demanded that the issue be discussed in the House as it is connected to national security.
Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and other Congress leaders like Jairam Ramesh and Pramod Tiwari questioned how the chairman was allowing the ruling party members to raise the issue when he had rejected their notices seeking discussion on various subjects.
Earlier, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day on Monday amid uproar over the BJP accusing top Congress leaders of colluding with billionaire investor George Soros to destabilise the country, with Dhankhar cautioning that “functioning of the deep state affects us more perniciously than the Covid disease”.
Amid uproar by treasury and opposition benches when the Upper House reassembled at 3 pm after three adjournments, he said a meeting was held in his chamber between the Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition.
“The purpose of that meeting was to ensure that the House runs smoothly. Both sides had a frank discussion and they signalled two things. One, that integrity, and sovereignty of the nation are sacred for us. We cannot allow any forces within the country or outside to sacrilege our unity, our integrity and our sovereignty,” he said, adding that the leaders have agreed to meet in his chamber again at 10.30 am on Tuesday.
The Vice President then appealed to all members to carefully consider the oath of the Constitution they have taken to ensure the integrity of the nation on a priority basis. “Any challenge to the unity and integrity of the nation from within or outside requires all of us to offer a united challenge… It is a challenge to our very existence. We as a nation are committed to fighting the sinister forces, the forces that are inimical to India… a deep state that is evolving is required to be neutralised by all of us,” he said.
