In a dramatic exchange in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan found themselves at odds amidst a chaotic session in the Upper House.
The incident began when Dhankhar criticized opposition MPs, accusing them of disrespecting the Constitution and democratic values. In the midst of the uproar, Dhankhar addressed Bachchan, urging her to speak. This led to Bachchan questioning Dhankhar’s tone, which she found inappropriate.
Watch: Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar reacted to Jaya Amitabh Bachchan’s statement, says, “You have earned a great reputation. You know, an actor is subject to the director. You have not seen what I see from here every day…” pic.twitter.com/ozwXADQbpd
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“I, Jaya Amitabh Bachchan, would like to say that I am an artist and understand body language and expressions. I am sorry, but your tone is not acceptable. We are colleagues, and while you may be in the Chair, this tone is inappropriate,” Bachchan said.
Dhankhar swiftly interrupted, advising Bachchan to take her seat. He asserted, “Jaya ji, take your seat. You have a great reputation. An actor follows the director’s lead. You do not see what I see from my position. I have gone out of my way to accommodate you. You may be a celebrity, but parliamentary decorum must be maintained.”
This confrontation follows a similar incident earlier in the week when Bachchan objected to Dhankhar using her full name, Jaya Amitabh Bachchan, during parliamentary proceedings. She expressed discomfort with her identity being linked to her husband’s name, calling it a “new drama” in Parliament.
In response, Dhankhar referred to procedural norms regarding election certificates, stating, “Jaya ji, the name used in official documents is what is referred to. You can opt to have it changed if you wish.”
The exchange highlights ongoing tensions within the Rajya Sabha and raises questions about the decorum and procedures in parliamentary interactions.
