'I Am A Farmer's Son, Won't Show Weakness': Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar On Opposition's No-Confidence Motion

A heated exchange took place in the Rajya Sabha on Friday (13 December) as Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge clashed over the no-confidence motion as the BJP members accused the Opposition of being unable to accept a farmer’s son holding a significant constitutional post.

Dhankhar acknowledged the Opposition’s constitutional right to bring a no-confidence motion but said that they were deviating from the procedures.

He said the motion had been submitted and would be brought up as per the procedures — after 14 days of written notice — and took note of the Opposition raising the issue in the press.

“I am a farmer’s son. I will not show weakness. I will sacrifice my life for my country. You (Opposition) have only one job 24 hours a day. Why is a farmer’s son sitting here? Look at what you are saying. I have tolerated a lot… You have the right to bring a motion but you are insulting the Constitution,” the Rajya Sabha Chairman said.

In response, Kharge stated, “If you are a farmer’s son, I am also the son of a labour. We are not here to listen to your praise… You are letting everyone from that side (the ruling party members) speak, you are letting them insult our party… You have a responsibility to run the House but you are purposely encouraging them (BJP members).”

Responding to Kharge, Dhankhar said, “The whole world knows whose praises you like. It is important that the House should function," Indian Express reported.

During the proceedings, BJP members Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, Surendra Singh Nagar, Neeraj Shekhar, and Kiran Choudhary raised points of order.

Agarwal noted that procedural rules require a 14-day notice before debating a no-confidence motion against the Vice President.

“I am seeing things here that I have not seen in the UP Assembly … You should have debated the allegation in the house, instead you are doing it on newspaper pages and social media,” he said, citing a post by Kharge.

Nagar and Choudhary said that the no-confidence motion against Dhankhar was against farmers and they will not forgive this.

The INDI Alliance submitted the no-confidence motion to the Secretary-General of the Upper House on 10 December.

During a joint press conference, INDI Alliance parties claimed they were forced to resort to the step to safeguard the democracy and Constitution.

Also Read: BJP Lives The Constitution, Congress Uses It As A Tool: Rajnath Singh