Rajya Sabha Chairman Urges Respect for Expunged Remarks
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Synopsis
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasized the importance of protecting members' reputations, asserting that expunged statements should not be revisited. He addressed the need for political education and the ethics of discourse within the House.
Key Takeaways
- Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar stressed the need for protecting reputations in the House.
- Expunged remarks should not gain traction according to Dhankhar.
- Political parties must educate their members.
- Ethics Committee to counsel members on maintaining decorum.
- Political narratives should not overshadow the integrity of the House.
New Delhi, April 3 (NationPress) Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasized on Thursday that every member of the House has a valuable reputation to uphold, and thus, anything that has been expunged should not gain attention.
He stated, "This House is not a forum for the unrestricted flow of information; we must not compromise the reputations built over decades. Members must be advised, and political parties should educate their representatives.”
Earlier, Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, expressed his discontent regarding remarks made by BJP MP Anurag Thakur in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Kharge accused Thakur of making false and groundless claims about him.
Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar pointed out that individuals in high constitutional positions have faced insinuations without any shame.
He remarked, "As the Chairman, I exercised the utmost restraint, and I noted that not only the Leader of the Opposition but also very highly positioned constitutional figures, including the Prime Minister, have faced insinuations without remorse."
The Chairman added, “Hon'ble Members, currently, Jairam Ramesh has made the most outrageous claim against the Chair, alleging that the Chair is diverting the issue. Please note my words: your Chairman was termed a cheerleader by Jairam Ramesh. And imagine my distress when a senior Congress leader recorded a mimicry of the Chairman on the sacred grounds of this House, and consider the anguish of millions in the country when you travel outside only to tarnish, demean, and spoil reputations.”
He continued, “I extended the highest respect to the Leader of Opposition, but if politicization is intended, then let me clarify that the expunction by the Chairman should put the issue to rest; and secondly, I have assigned the Ethics Committee led by Ghanshyam Tiwari to consult experts and devise a method to counsel members. Political parties must be accountable for how to rectify reputations and preserve them. I observed Derek O’Brien gesticulating to his members. Can we tolerate that? And gentlemen, when I expunged Derek O’Brien’s comments, he posted them on social media on Twitter—Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8.”
Jagdeep Dhankhar affirmed his commitment to maintaining order in the House.
He stated, "If you do not acknowledge the stature of the Prime Minister in his third term, you treat the President of India, the first tribal woman, with such contempt, a woman of grace, devotion, and significant sacrifices, and these insinuations. The source of these allegations does not come from ordinary members but from political leadership."
“I aimed to be accommodating out of respect for every member present, but this is being used as a political transaction, a tool to shape a political narrative. On this day, marking the inception of the Rajya Sabha, let us reflect profoundly. I do not wish to create any situation other than a convergence of views to enhance the functionality of the House,” he concluded.
