Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: Dusting off its draft prepared in August, Opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc on Monday indicated that it is moving ahead with a resolution to “remove” Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar from office, accusing him of “partisan” behaviour in Rajya Sabha during the ongoing Winter Session.
The relationship between Dhankhar, who is also Rajya Sabha Chairman, and the Opposition soured in the past couple of days with the Opposition claiming that he has allowed the ruling BJP MPs to raise controversial issues targeting them while denying them opportunity, sources said.
Sources said they could submit the resolution under Article 67 of the Constitution as early as Tuesday though it may not come up before the House for discussion, as 14 days notice is required for taking it up for debate.
The I.N.D.I.A. parties had in August collected signatures to move a proposal for removal, which they called “impeachment”, but decided to give him “another chance” but his “conduct on Monday” in the House left them with no option but to move ahead, sources said.
Dhankhar has invited the ire of the Opposition, after allowing BJP MPs to raise allegations of Congress leaders’ links with billionaire investor George Soros against national interests even after disallowing their notices. They were also upset with the way he handled the recovery of currency notes from the seat allotted to Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi.
Sources said the developments, especially on Monday, had brought warring Opposition parties on a single platform with Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party supporting the Congress move against Dhankhar. “Today was very bad. We expected the Chair to protect us,” a non-Congress opposition leader said.
Asked about the possibility of Opposition prospects, another senior leader said they know that the numbers are stacked against them but that “doesn’t matter as it is a fight for Parliamentary democracy”. Sources said Trinamool Congress had suggested that the Opposition move the resolution last week itself.
Sources said it is all about “sending a message” that the Opposition is facing “bias” in the House and there is “total loss of confidence” on the Chairman. “The Chairman has given a golden opportunity for the Opposition to remain united,” a senior leader said.
According to Article 67 (b) of the Constitution, a Vice President can be removed from his office by a resolution of the Rajya Sabha passed by a majority of the members present at the time of voting. However, no resolution can be moved unless 14 days’ notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution.