A no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar is fast becoming a certainty with Congress leader Ranjeet Ranjan confirming that the party has garnered more than enough support from MPs to demand a debate. The no-confidence motion is centred around allegations of partisan behaviour by Mr. Dhankhar in his handling of the House, particularly after a heated exchange in the Upper House.
According to sources, people from various opposition parties-the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee and AamAadmi Party headed by Arvind Kejriwal, among others who usually are not allied with the Congress, could vote in favour of the no-confidence motion.
Congress Galvanises Support for No-Confidence Motion
Congress leader Ranjan said in a statement to NDTV that they had already managed to get 70 signatures, which is way more than the 50 needed to pass the motion. She said that the motion would be supported by a wide range of opposition parties, who have united in response to what they describe as “unprecedented” actions within the Rajya Sabha.
“We have 70 signatures, and we are confident in bringing this no-confidence motion against the Rajya Sabha chair,” Ranjan said. She further emphasised that the party’s move was prompted by the recent events inside the House, particularly the chaotic scenes following BJP’s attacks on Congress leaders.
Tensions Escalate After BJP‘s Attack on Congress Leaders
The controversy erupted on Monday when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by JP Nadda, launched a scathing attack on senior Congress leaders, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, accusing them of having links to businessman George Soros and a media organisation partially funded by his foundation. The BJP‘s claims, which revolved around alleged connections between Mrs. Gandhi and organisations with views on Kashmir, were met with a strong rebuttal from Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge.
However, MPs from both sides had their say when they clashed in a shouting match that left the House in adjournments several times. Congress has said it moved the no-confidence motion partly because of the way Mr. Jagdeep Dhankhar handled the situation, permitting comments against Mrs. Gandhi but rejecting 11 notices by BJP MPs seeking a discussion on the issue.
Congress Accuses Dhankhar of Bias
Kharge particularly pointed out that Mr. Dhankhar’s handling of the BJP’s comments against Mrs. Gandhi was biased, as he allowed the remarks despite rejecting BJP‘s requests for debate. “What the Leader of the House (Mr. Nadda) said is a lie, and it is wrong to damage the image of a member who is not present,” Kharge said.
This is the latest in the series of clashes between the opposition and the BJP. Last week, the BJP had also proclaimed Rahul Gandhi a “traitor” and had implicated him and Soros along with some other U.S. agencies allegedly trying to destabilise the country.
BJP’s Charge of Foreign Hand in Indian Affairs
The BJP’s charges at a time when the opposition was seeking to take up for raising critical issues in Parliament such as the clashes in Uttar Pradesh‘s Sambhal over the survey of the mosque, and reports related to the Adani Group. The ruling party has also targeted the OCCRP (Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project), which is partly funded by George Soros, claiming that the organisation publishes reports that are critical of India, and accusing the Congress of using these reports to attack the government and Indian business interests.
The US Congress has strongly countered any such claims, with members declaring, “We are patriots,” and that the party is not indebted to any foreign influence.
Response of US Government to Claims
The allegations by BJP garnered a strong response from the U.S. government when it distanced itself with the accusations. The U.S. said that its involvement in any independent organisation, such as OCCRP, was only to enhance and develop journalism and did not intercede in editorial decisions. Such action was seen as the desperate move of the United States to calm the tempests between the two countries during the political discourse in India.
With the no-confidence motion going through the motions, everyone’s eyes will be glued to the Rajya Sabha as the ongoing tussle between the opposition and the ruling BJP continues to unfold. The motion, if brought to the floor, will be expected to fuel further debate over the impartiality of the Rajya Sabha Chair and broader political ramifications for both parties.
