E-Paper
Can’t direct PM to be present in Rajya Sabha: Dhankhar tells Oppn on Manipur debate
Jagdeep Dhankhar said such a directive has not come from the Chair in the past and the Opposition’s insistence that he be present in the House was “ill-advised”
NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday explicitly ruled out issuing any directive to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be present in the Upper House to discuss the situation in Manipur as has been demanded by the opposition parties, underlining that by doing so he would be “violating” the oath of office.
Dhankhar, who a day earlier referred to the Opposition’s demand for the PM to make a statement in the House as “constitutionally ill-premised” said, “I had in categorical terms indicated very firmly on a proper constitutional premise and precedent that from this chair, I will be violating my oath if I impart a directive for the presence of the Prime Minister.”
He underlined that such a directive has not come from the Chair in the past and the Opposition’s insistence that he be present in the House is “ill-advised.”
“… I cannot make up for ignorance of the statute and the Constitution. If he wants to come, like everyone else, it is his prerogative. From this chair, a directive of this nature, which has never been issued, will not be issued,” he said.
The chairman’s comments came soon after the Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge spoke about how he made eight points in the notice to seek a discussion on the situation in Manipur under Rule 267, and said that it explained why the discussion should be held and why the PM should be present.
The Opposition’s arguments notwithstanding, Dhankhar said he received 58 notices under Rule 267 (which allows for the listed business to be suspended to take up a matter of urgency) to discuss the Manipur situation, but since they do not meet the conditions for suspending business to take up the issue, he did not admit the notices.
Following the Chair’s decision, the opposition parties walked out in protest.
When Trinamool Congress MP, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray indicated that their party MPs were also walking out, Dhankhar said the lawmakers were walking away from their mandate.
“...He is not walking out from the House, but he is walking out from his constitutional obligations. He is walking out from performing his duty for the people. This is the platform to serve the people at large, as per the rule of law. Such a failure, the people have to judge...” he said.
Dhankhar earlier said that the time allocated for a short-duration discussion on Manipur under Rule 176 was not limited to two-and-half hours, “I had indicated no time limit and that all segments will have a full say ..” he said.
