'Pained’: RS Chairman Dhankhar Claims A First As LoP Kharge Enters Well Of House, Congress Dismisses Remark

Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar condemned LoP Kharge for entering the Well, calling it an unprecedented breach of decorum. Congress defended Kharge's actions comparing it to a similar incident involving former LoP Azad.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed deep dismay on Friday as Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge entered the Well of the House during an opposition protest. Dhankhar claimed that this incident marked the first instance of a person in Kharge's position engaging in such conduct, the Congress contested this assertion.

The Upper House of Parliament witnessed multiple adjournments throughout the day due to vehement protests and slogan-shouting by opposition MPs. The disruptions ensued immediately after the morning session commenced, where Dhankhar announced his decision to reject 22 notices from opposition leaders aimed at suspending the scheduled agenda to discuss alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.

The atmosphere became increasingly charged as opposition members raised slogans and some moved into the Well, prompting the adjournment of proceedings. BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi's speech on a motion to thank the President was also disrupted amidst the chaos.

Dhankhar expressed his disappointment over the turn of events, stating, "I am pained and surprised that Indian parliamentary tradition will stoop to such lows that the Leader of the Opposition will troop into the Well." He reiterated his concerns later in the day, emphasising, "If in this House we conduct ourselves in this unruly manner, it is most unfortunate."

Speaking to news agency ANI, Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge blamed Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar for the incident alleging that he continued to ignore him while he tried to draw his attention.

"It is his (Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar's) mistake...I went inside to draw his attention. But even then he was not looking... I was drawing attention. He was only looking at the ruling party. When I draw his attention as per the rules, he should look at me, but instead, he deliberately ignored me to insult me. So what was left for me? So to draw attention I would have to either go inside or shout very loudly. So I will definitely say that it is Chairman Sahab's mistake," he said.

"I say that he should not do this and should maintain the dignity of this Rajya Sabha...There have been such big scams, NEET exam, the paper has been leaked, lakhs of children are worried. So to draw attention to the problem of people, we asked for a specific discussion. We did not want to disturb anyone, we only wanted to raise the issues of the students...But he did not give it a chance, did not even pay attention to it and that is why we had to do this," Kharge added.

Despite the disruptions, the House eventually resumed discussions on the motion of thanks before adjourning for the day at 6 pm. It was announced that the Rajya Sabha would reconvene on Monday at 11 am.

Congress Says Oppn Demand For Discussion On NEET Row 'Ignored', Counters Dhankhar's Claim

Responding to the incident, Congress General Secretary and MP Jairam Ramesh defended Kharge's actions, citing the opposition's intent to prioritise discussions on issues like paper leaks and NEET irregularities. Ramesh highlighted that Kharge's requests to address the House were repeatedly overlooked, leading to his decision to enter the Well.

"We only wanted incidents of paper leaks and NEET to be taken up for discussion first. He kept raising his hand to demand a discussion but his attempts were ignored and in the end, Kharge ji had to enter the Well of the House," Ramesh told news agency ANI, drawing comparisons to past incidents involving former LoP Ghulam Nabi Azad.

"Today, Kharge ji kept requesting the Rajya Sabha Chairman to allow him to speak, but he kept ignoring Kharge ji. It would have been a four-five hour debate, the Education minister would have given a statement and that would be it," he added.

In a statement on social media, Ramesh cited a prior incident as he said, "It is being propagated that Mallikarjun Kharge ji is the first Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha to enter the well of the House in protest. Memories are short especially when old rivals become new partners. On Aug 5 2019, the-then Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad sat on the steps leading to the Chairman's presiding seat - which is very much part of the Well."

"This was when the Bills to abolish Article 370 and downgrade the status of J&K from a full-fledged state to a UT were being introduced. I should know--I sat next to him," he added.