Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar criticized Opposition MPs for walking out during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address, calling it a ‘dangerous precedent.’
Before leaving, the Opposition MPs loudly chanted “LoP ko bolne do” (Let the Leader of the Opposition speak). Chairman Dhankhar did not permit Congress President and Leader of the House Mallikarjun Kharge to intervene during PM Modi’s speech, prompting louder protests and eventually a walkout from the Opposition benches.
Dhankhar accused the MPs of disrespecting the House and violating the Constitution’s spirit. He condemned the walkout, stating, “They showed their back to the Constitution of India, they didn’t insult me or you, they insulted the oath of the Constitution that they took. There can be no bigger insult to the Constitution of India than this.”
He further asserted that the Opposition’s actions were a challenge to the Constitution, an outrage to its spirit, and a disregard for their oath. Dhankhar emphasized, “The Constitution is not something to hold in your hands; it is the book to way of life. I hope that they will self-introspect and walk the path of duty,” chastising them for their ‘reckless’ conduct.
The Chairman mentioned that the Leader of the Opposition was given sufficient time to speak without interruption and deemed the chanting of slogans and disruption of proceedings ‘irresponsible.’
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Conversely, LoP Mallikarjun Kharge, speaking to reporters outside Parliament, claimed they were ‘forced’ to walk out as the Prime Minister was spreading falsehoods and their objections were ignored by the Chairman.
“We walked out because PM Modi said some wrong things while speaking on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address. It is his habit to lie and say things that are beyond truth,” Kharge stated.
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