Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge sharply criticized Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday, calling him the "biggest spokesperson" for the government.
In response to the opposition’s motion to remove Dhankhar, Kharge stated that the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha was the primary cause of disruptions in the upper house.
He emphasized that the position of Vice President, historically seen as impartial, had never been subject to such a motion since 1952, as previous officeholders had always been unbiased and adhered to the rules of the House.
Kharge accused Dhankhar of deviating from the tradition of neutrality, arguing that his actions reflected more politics than procedure. He further accused the Rajya Sabha Chairman of stifling important discussions raised by the opposition, claiming that Dhankhar regularly prevented opposition leaders from speaking and deliberately blocked debates on critical issues.
The Congress leader also alleged that Dhankhar was more loyal to the ruling BJP than to the Constitution, describing him as a spokesperson for the government instead of an impartial chair. Kharge remarked that the Vice President seemed more focused on advancing his political agenda than on upholding the dignity of the House.
Kharge clarified that the opposition’s motion was not motivated by personal animosity but by a commitment to preserving democratic values, the Constitution, and the integrity of the Rajya Sabha. He stated that the INDIA bloc had taken this step after careful deliberation and due consideration of the prevailing situation, underscoring the importance of safeguarding the nation's democratic institutions.