'How Dare You...': Dhankhar Schools Derek In Massive Rajya Sabha Ruckus Over Vinesh Phogat's Disqualification

High drama played out in Rajya Sabha on Thursday over wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Paris Olympics. As the Opposition leaders began seeking permission to speak on the issue, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O’Brien shouted in the House, drawing Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar’s ire.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar stopped presiding over the House for a brief while and walked to his chamber saying that he did not “get the support he should have received.”

He said, “Making this sacred House a centre of anarchy, attacking Indian democracy, tarnishing the dignity of the post of the Speaker, this is not just indecent conduct, this is conduct that crosses all limits. What I have been seeing in recent days and the way the challenge is being given through words, letters, through newspapers, how many wrong comments have been made.”

Addressing the House during the monsoon session, he explained, “This challenge is not being given to me but this challenge is being given to the post of the Chairman. And this challenge is being given because they (opposition) think that the person sitting on this post is not worthy of it. They (Opposition) think they are the only ones whose hearts are bleeding. The entire nation is in pain because of the girl. Everyone is sharing the situation but to monetise it, politicise it, is the greatest disrespect to the girl. That girl has a long way to go.”

He reprimanded the MP and said, “How dare you shout at the chair and senior leaders are not taking note of it. Your conduct is the ugliest in the House. Next time I will show you the door.”

He reminded the members of the Upper House about the dark phase during the emergency and said, “We know how it starts. It starts with a challenge to the Parliament’s democracy.” Eventually, the Opposition leader walked out of the House.

Jagdeep Dhankhar later said, “The scene created in the House was unprecedented, indigestible. It is our bounden duty to take tough decisions.”

Similar scenes were witnessed on Wednesday, too. Opposition members in Rajya Sabha shouted slogans demanding justice for wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was disqualified from the Paris Olympics after being found overweight ahead of her 50kg final match, and walked out of the House after they were denied permission to speak on the issue.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar criticised the conduct of opposition members, including Leader of Opposition (LoP) Mallikarjun Kharge, accusing them of “challenging” the authority of the chair and “walking out on their constitutional duty”.

‘Opposition Has No Solid Issue To Discuss’: JP Nadda

BJP National President JP Nadda said the Opposition did not have and solid issue to discuss. He said, “The entire country is with Vinesh Phogat. This is not about Opposition or Centre. It’s about the country, the entire country is with her. When PM called her champion of champions, we felt the voice was of the 140 crore Indians. The opposition has no solid issue that they want to discuss.