Opposition walkout, Jagdeep Dhankhar’s ‘enough is enough’ warning, Nadda's condemnation, 2 adjournments: Furore in Rajya Sabha

Aditi Tandon

New Delhi, August 9

A BJP member's alleged objectionable remarks about leader of opposition Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday plunged the House of Elders into chaos with the opposition walking out, the chairman issuing an "enough is enough, this virus will destroy democracy” warning and the government proposing a resolution by the house to condemn the "undignified and indecorous conduct of the opposition".

It all started with Kharge rising in zero hour to flag unsavoury remarks made against him by BJP's Ghanshyam Tiwari and Congress demanding an apology -- something Dhankhar turned down saying Tiwari had actually praised Kharge in Sanskrit.

“Apologise for what,” asked the chairman when Congress leaders sought an apology from Tiwari. At this point, SP's Jaya Bachchan got up and said she understands gestures and body language.

"You may be sitting there but we are all colleagues," she said to Dhankhar who took strong exception to her remarks and castigated the opposition for "repeated attempts to destabilise the country and Parliament".

At this point, the opposition walked out with Dhankhar slamming the move and later saying "enough is enough, they want to put democracy in peril."

Dhankhar also opened the floor for other leaders to speak and said he needed counsel of the house to deal with repeated obstructions and disruptions.

Leader of the house JP Nadda later proposed a resolution condemning the opposition after leaders of the ruling NDA questioned the conduct of the Congress with former prime minister HD Deve Gowda accusing "two Congress members of provoking others when Mallikarjun Kharge appeared to have reconciled to the issue of Tiwari following Dhankhar's move to strike a truce between the two earlier today".

Deve Gowda of the JD (S) slammed the opposition for "ignoring the appeals of the chair" and with folded hands urged Dhankhar to continue the house proceedings and let the opposition walk out if they must.

"Nothing can prevent the Modi government from completing five years," Gowda said.

NDA leaders -- Sanjay Jha of the JDU and Jayant Chaudhry of RLP condemned Jaya Bachchan for “making light of the institution of the presiding officer”.

Jha went to the extent of accusing Congress parliamentary party leader Sonia Gandhi of instigating the opposition to create ruckus.

“Please don't be soft, use a baton,” Jha urged Dhankhar, who earlier cited the imposition of Emergency by late Congress veteran Indira Gandhi to draw parallels to today's opposition and the Congress of emergency era times.

The resolution Nadda proposed read: "This house unanimously condemns the events of the day."

Dhankhar earlier in veiled references to Congress leader Salman Khurshid asked how an ex foreign minister could say things like "what has happened in a neighbouring country (Bangladesh) could happen in India.

"It has become a pattern. Some leaders on their side make objectionable comments. They suspend the leader and then take him back," added Dhankhar in reference to Sam Pitroda who had spoken of wealth redistribution on Lok Sabha poll eve stepping down as overseas Congress chief after uproar only to be brought back post polls.

The Rajya Sabha chairman said attacks on the chair are a reflection that the opposition could not digest the BJP government for a third term.

The events of the day led to adjournment of the Rajya Sabha at 1 pm until 2 pm and then again from 2 pm to 2.30 pm.