New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday hit out at Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar for his criticism of Rahul Gandhi’s remarks within the UK, saying that the Rajya Sabha chairman is an umpire and can’t be a cheerleader for any ruling dispensation. The Congress’ response got here after Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar attacked Gandhi for his feedback concerning microphones being turned off in Parliament and mentioned he can be on the “wrong side” of the Constitution if he stayed silent on the difficulty.
Congress Slams V-P Dhankhar
In an announcement, Congress basic secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh famous that at an occasion on Thursday to mark the launch of a e-book, the vice chairman made sure remarks on Rahul Gandhi’s speech delivered within the United Kingdom. “There are sure workplaces which require us to shed our prejudices, our get together allegiances and compel us to rid ourselves of no matter propaganda we could have imbibed alongside the way in which.
“The office of the Vice President of India, an office on which the Constitution bestows the additional responsibility of being the Chair of the Rajya Sabha, is foremost amongst these,” Ramesh mentioned. The vice chairman’s assertion on Gandhi, due to this fact, was stunning, to say the least, he mentioned. “He (Dhankhar) rushed to the defence of a government from which he is constitutionally required to be at arms-length and in a manner that was both confusing as well as disappointing,” Ramesh mentioned.
He mentioned Rahul Gandhi has not mentioned something overseas that he has not mentioned a number of occasions right here. “And unlike certain other individuals, his stand does not vary depending on where he sits,” Ramesh mentioned.
The Congress chief argued that Gandhi’s assertion was factual and consultant of the fact on the bottom. “Over the last two weeks, more than twelve Members of Parliament belonging to Opposition Parties have been served with Breach of Privilege Notices for protesting the suppression of their voices in Parliament on an issue that is inconvenient to the ruling regime,” he mentioned.
कल उपराष्ट्रपति और राज्य सभा के सभापति ने जो कुछ कहा है, उसके जवाब में मेरा वक्तव्य। pic.twitter.com/qOx0sw93jw
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) March 10, 2023
Over the final eight years, channels and newspapers have been blacked out, raided, and intimidated to the purpose that the one voice that’s carried is that of the federal government, he alleged. Institutions that maintained a studied distance from the governments of the previous at the moment are subordinated to the purpose that they choke on any order or discovering adversarial to the ruling regime, he claimed.
“Those who dissent are penalised. There may be no declaration of emergency but make no mistake, the actions of this regime are not those of a secure government that respects the Constitution,” Ramesh mentioned.
The Vice President’s remarks on this event, in addition to on sure earlier ones, solely serve to underscore this level, he alleged. In these occasions, to be petrified to dissent can be a betrayal of the Constitution and all that our founding fathers fought for, he mentioned.
“We at the Indian National Congress have been the most consistent voice in opposition to this regime and will continue to do so,” Ramesh mentioned. “The Chairman, however, is an umpire, a referee, a friend, philosopher and guide to all. He cannot be a cheerleader for any ruling dispensation. History measures leaders not on the zealousness with which they defended their party, but the dignity with which they performed their roles in the service of the people,” the Congress basic secretary mentioned.
In a tweet, Congress basic secretary-in-charge group Ok C Venugopal additionally hit out on the vice chairman. “Misrepresenting parliamentary proceedings is unbecoming of the office of the Vice President,” he mentioned. “Opposition MPs’ mics are routinely switched off, and proceedings reached a new low last session when the LS Speaker expunged Rahul Gandhi ji’s allegations on the Adani scam,” Venugopal mentioned.
Instead of denying one thing that’s out within the public glare, the vice chairman ought to make sure that the opposition is given ample area to boost points of public significance, irrespective of how uncomfortable they make the Modi authorities, he mentioned.
Misrepresenting parliamentary proceedings is unbecoming of the workplace of the Hon’ble Vice President.
Opposition MPs’ mics are routinely switched off, and proceedings reached a brand new low final session when the LS Speaker expunged @RahulGandhi ji’s allegations on the Adani rip-off.
— Ok C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) March 9, 2023
Dhankhar Slams Rahul Gandhi’s Remarks
Speaking at an occasion to launch veteran Congress chief and former parliamentarian Karan Singh’s e-book on the Mundaka Upanishad, Dhankhar spoke extensively on the previous Congress president’s remarks made in London. “The world is applauding our historic accomplishments and functional, vibrant democracy. Some amongst us, including parliamentarians, in overdrive, are engaged in the thoughtless, unfair denigration of our well-nurtured democratic values,” he mentioned.
Rahul Gandhi instructed British parliamentarians in London on Monday that functioning microphones within the Lok Sabha are sometimes silenced towards the Opposition. He made the remark throughout an occasion organised by veteran Indian-origin Opposition Labour Party MP Virendra Sharma within the Grand Committee Room throughout the House of Commons advanced.
In his tackle, the vice chairman mentioned, “How do we justify such wanton orchestration of factually untenable narrative and mark the timing… India is having a moment of glory being president of G20. And there are people from the country working in overdrive to denigrate us. Such misplaced campaign mode to taint and tarnish our Parliament and Constitution is too serious and exceptional to be ignored.”
“No political strategy or partisan stance can justify compromising our nationalism and democratic values. I am before a noble soul, my silence on this misadventure…If I observe silence on this orchestration by a Member of Parliament outside the country which is ill-premised and motivated, I would be on the wrong side of the Constitution. It would be constitutional culpability and outrage of my oath,” Dhankhar mentioned, in an apparent reference to Gandhi’s remarks.
