Opposition submits notice for VP's removal
On Tuesday, an opposition bloc in India submitted a notice for the removal of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar, who also serves as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, accusing him of partisan conduct. The opposition claimed that Dhankar’s actions were biased, particularly in his role overseeing the Rajya Sabha, though the motion is unlikely to succeed due to the ruling party’s strong majority in the house.
The notice, signed by 60 MPs from various opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, SP, RJD, CPI, CPM, JMM, AAP, and DMK, was submitted to the Rajya Sabha Secretary General, PC Mody, by Congress MPs Jairam Ramesh and Nasir Hussain. Despite the likely defeat of the motion, opposition members emphasized that their objective was to send a strong message about defending parliamentary democracy.
In response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiran Rijiju condemned the move, stating that it disrespected the dignity of the chair, whether in the Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha. He highlighted the importance of adhering to parliamentary traditions and respecting the office of the Speaker or Chairman. Rijiju also pointed out that the NDA holds a majority in the house, suggesting that the motion was unlikely to have any substantial impact.
