The Rajya Sabha witnessed a short but sharp exchange on Monday after Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, while welcoming the new Chairman CP Radhakrishnan, referred to the “unexpected and sudden exit” of former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar. Treasury benches immediately objected, arguing that the remark was out of place on what they described as a solemn and celebratory occasion.
Speaking on behalf of the Opposition, Kharge extended greetings to Radhakrishnan on his first day in the Upper House and said the Congress “staunchly stands by Constitutional values and time-honoured Parliamentary traditions”. He assured cooperation in the conduct of proceedings, adding that “fair and impartial conduct of proceedings, providing just opportunity to members of each party, is essential for credibility of this office”.
Kharge noted that Dhankhar had resigned on July 21 on health grounds, but said he felt “constrained” to mention the manner of the departure. “I am constrained to refer to your predecessor's unexpected and sudden exit from the office of Chairman, which is unprecedented in the annals of Parliamentary history… The Chairman Rajya Sabha, as the custodian of the House, belongs as much to the opposition as to the government,” he said. The intervention prompted protests from ruling party members, who said the remark undermined the decorum of the event.
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He also expressed disappointment that the House did not get an opportunity to bid Dhankhar farewell. Turning to the new Chairman, Kharge noted Radhakrishnan’s familial link to former Congress MP CK Kuppuswamy and urged him to “keep a balance between both sides”.
Kharge, responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments made earlier outside Parliament, added, “He attacked us indirectly as well, we will reply to it here.”
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju reproached the LoP for raising Dhankhar’s resignation. “This is a very solemn occasion… Why did the honourable Leader of Opposition refer to a case which was not necessary to be raised at this moment?” he asked, recalling the motion for Dhankhar’s removal once moved by Opposition parties. Leader of the House JP Nadda also intervened, calling for dignity and restraint, and alluding to the Opposition’s recent electoral setbacks in Bihar and Haryana.
Earlier, the Prime Minister had said the Opposition was struggling to accept its losses, remarking that “defeat should not be the ground to create disruption” and that Parliament was “a place for delivery, not drama”.
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