New Delhi: The members of the INDIA bloc are planning to move a no-confidence motion against vice president and Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, The Wire has learnt from sources.
According to sources, the Congress party is steering the resolution and seeking the support of other INDIA parties. Sources added that a total of 70 signatures have been obtained. However, sources in the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) said that party members’ signatures had not yet been taken. Sources said that the Trinamool Congress (TMC), initially reticent, were on board with it eventually by the morning of December 10.
The development comes after the Rajya Sabha saw heated scenes and repeated adjournments on Monday (December 9) as the Treasury benches demanded a discussion on the alleged links between the Congress and US billionaire George Soros accusing the Opposition party of collusion to “destablise” parliament and derail India’s economy. Accusing him of being partisan, Opposition members said Dhankhar was allowing a discussion on the issue despite rejecting notices under Rule 267, and also accused the Treasury benches of diverting attention from the bribery allegations against the Adani Group in the US.
Under Article 67(b) of the constitution “a vice-president may be removed from his office by a resolution of the Council of States passed by a majority of all the then members of the Council and agreed to by the House of the People; but no resolution for the purpose of this clause shall be moved unless at least fourteen days’ notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution.”
Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose said that this government is “murdering parliament.”
“They are scared because they do not have the answers to issues affecting common people. BJP and the government are misusing high constitutional offices and making them subservient to executive power. The opposition do not have the numbers in Rajya Sabha, but this is a fight against all those who want to ruin our parliamentary system. At stake is the integrity of our parliamentary democracy itself and the solemn constitutional rights of every representative of the people,” she added.
When the House proceedings started, Dhankhar rejected 11 notices received under Rule 267 including farmers’ protests, ongoing violence in Manipur, as well as the alleged links between the Congress and Soros. While all the notices were rejected by Dhankhar, he allowed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kavita Patidar to speak, who then demanded a discussion under Rule 267 on the alleged links between the Congress and Soros.
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“Congress and Soros-linked organisations are trying to endanger India’s unity,” Patidar said, demanding a discussion under Rule 267 as Opposition benches erupted in protest, accusing the Treasury benches of raising a matter, notice for which, had already been rejected by the Chair.
“This is most unfair. You have rejected the notices. He is raising an issue, which you have rejected. It is very clear this is part of a game plan to raise this issue and have this House adjourned. Don’t be party to this,” said Congress MP Jairam Ramesh after BJP MP Laxmikant Bajpai also raised the demand for a discussion on the alleged Soros-Congress nexus.
Both inside and outside parliament, the BJP has cited the reporting of Mediapart on another investigative media network, the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), to accuse the Congress and its leaders of targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the alleged backing of Soros and the US state department.
Mediapart has condemned the “instrumentalisation” of its report by the BJP to serve its political agenda.
While the House was adjourned till noon, when it reconvened Treasury benches once again renewed their demands with several BJP MPs including K. Lakshman, Arun Singh, Dinesh Sharma, Neeraj Shekhar, Bhubaneshwar Kalita, Brij Lal, among others asking for a discussion on it.
Amid the uproar, Opposition members asked the Chair, under which Rule the members of the Treasury benches were being allowed to raise the issue.
“I want to urge you and say with respect that this was not expected from you. Under which Rule have you started this discussion? You are being partisan. They are obstructing the House and you are allowing them by taking their names one by one,” said Congress MP Digvijaya Singh.
Opposition says bid to divert attention from allegations against Adani
Opposition members also said that if the Treasury benches want a discussion on Soros, then allegations against Adani should also be discussed in the House.
“Let there be a discussion on George Soros and Adani together on the floor of the House,” said CPI(M) MP John Brittas.
CPI MP P. Sandosh Kumar said that this was “a calculated move to save Adani and just divert attention.”
When the House reconvened again at 2 pm after being adjourned a little after noon, Dhankhar allowed leader of the House and Union minister J.P. Nadda to speak, who also raised the same issue.
“The events that have come to light have troubled our members and the whole country is worried. The country’s security, safety are important issues. The way in which reports are emerging that the forum of democratic leaders [FDL] in Asia Pacific has links with George Soros, this is very concerning,” said Nadda amid protests from the Opposition benches.
Opposition members could be heard chanting, “Adani ki dalali bandh karo (Stop being agents for Adani)” while Nadda spoke.
“The co-president of this organisation is a member of this House,” said Nadda referring to Sonia Gandhi.
“This forum of democratic leaders in Asia Pacific views Jammu and Kashmir as a separate entity. The worrying issue is that FDL-AP’s financing support system is linked to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. This is very concerning and taints India’s image, questions our security systems. The way Congress is playing with India’s interests, the country is concerned and that is why our members want a discussion. Congress’ senior leader goes abroad and speaks in the same language that Soros propagates. Not just this, all publications that receive Soros’ funding, Congress’ senior leader raises them here and tries to destabilise the country. We want a discussion on this,” he added.
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Dhankhar said that he had met the leaders of the House and would meet them again on Tuesday to end the logjam.
“I had in my chamber a meeting between the leader of the House and the leader of the Opposition. The purpose of that meeting was to ensure that the House runs smoothly. I would appeal to all the members of the House to carefully consider the oath of the constitution they have taken. Their oath is very specific. They have to ensure the integrity of the nation on a priority basis. Any challenge to the unity of the nation, to the integrity of the nation requires all of us to offer a united challenge. This is not a challenge to one section or the other. It is a challenge to our very existence,” Dhankhar mentioned.
Further, echoing the BJP’s views, he added: “We as a nation are committed to fighting these sinister forces, these forces that are inimical to India. This inimical force mechanism, a deep state that is evolving, is required to be neutralised by all of us… The functioning of the deep state has been noticed that it affects us more perniciously than COVID disease and this is an occasion where the entire nation needs to speak in one voice. The nation must give a direction to the people at large so that all enemies of Bharat within or outside a total lesson never to venture into a misadventure to challenge our integrity, and our sovereignty and impede our progress.”
While the Opposition demanded that leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge be allowed to speak, Dhankhar adjourned the House for the day moments after the Congress MP started speaking.
Note: This article was updated to add latest developments.
