Uproar continued in the Upper House on Friday, demanding a discussion on the issue of lapse in security of Parliament. Meanwhile, when Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha was raising the question of security arrangements, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar warned him against making hand gestures.
Opposition MPs demanded postponement of the day’s scheduled business to discuss the serious situation arising out of the security lapse in Parliament on December 13. But the Chairman did not approve the notice and continued the Zero Hour. On this, the entire opposition erupted in protest and started raising slogans. Meanwhile, Chadha tried to raise the question of (security) arrangements by gesturing with his hand.
What did the Chairman of Rajya Sabha say?
The Chairman objected to this gesture and said, “Mr Chadha, you do not need to do this (hand gesture) to raise a point of order. Use your tongue. Do not do this.”
Reprimating the AAP MP, Dhankhar further said, “If you want to say something, use your mouth. Don’t gesture with your hands. Now is the time for you to learn many things. Looks like you too will start dancing soon. Sit quietly on your seat. You have already been punished by this House.”
Suspended during the monsoon Session
Chadha was suspended from the Rajya Sabha in August this year for presenting misleading facts in the media during the monsoon session of Parliament. The House, through a resolution on December 4, ended his suspension and he was allowed to attend the proceedings.
Proceedings could not take place
Meanwhile, opposition MPs remained firm on their demand that Union Home Minister Amit Shah should make a statement and then discuss the security breach. Seeing the increasing uproar, the Chairman adjourned the proceedings of the House first at 2 pm and then for the whole day. The House meeting will now resume on December 18. Dhankhar also asked Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the House Piyush Goyal and other House leaders to meet him in his chamber.
