A visibly disappointed Jagdeep Dhankhar stood up from his Rajya Sabha Chairman's and walked out of the House after the Opposition allegedly laughed at him. Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is also the Vice-President of India, accused the Opposition of insulting the chair by walking out of the discussions in the House.


The Rajya Sabha got off to a stormy start as the Opposition demanded a discussion on Vinesh Phogat's disqualification. The Opposition had walked out of the House on Wednesday after Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge was purportedly denied an opportunity to speak on the issue.  


When the Opposition raised the issue again on Thursday, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said,"...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 and politicise it is the greatest disrespect to the girl. That girl has a long way to go..."






As Kharge tried to raise the issue again on Thursday, Dhankhar said that he would not allow the House to be used as a platform for this. As Dhankhar tried to continue the session, the Opposition again disrupted the proceedings to make their voices heard. A livid Jagdeep Dhankhar picked out TMC MP Derek O'Brien and said: "You are shouting at the Chair. I condemn your action. How dare you shout at the Chair? This is unbecoming conduct."






Dhankhar then invoked the 1975-77 Emergency and said: "We know how it starts. It starts with a challenge to the Parliamentary institutions." At this, most of the Opposition members staged a walkout. Dhankhar reacted to this move of the Opposition and said that by walking out, the Opposition had insulted the Chair.


However, as the proceedings continued, Congress leaders sought to disrupt them. Dhankhar said: "The Opposition feels I am not fit to sit on this Chair. I did not get the desired support from the House." 


He then alleged that senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh of laughing at him and said: "Don't laugh at me... I know your habit... I find myself left with no option after today. The behaviour meted out to me makes me feel inadequate to sit on this Chair. With a sad heart, I seek to excuse myself from the House."





Dhankhar then walked out of the Rajya Sabha with folded hands.