Congress accuses RS Chairman of partisanship

New Delhi: The Congress today accused the Rajya Sabha Chairman of partisanship in conducting the business of the House.

“We cannot be mute spectators to the murder of democracy”, remarked senior leader and member Ajay Maken.

Addressing a press conference here today, AICC Treasurer Ajay Maken and Deputy Leader of the Congress in the RS Pramod Tiwari alleged that not just the Congress party, but the entire opposition felt that the Chairman’s role was being partisan.

Maken asked, how will democracy function when the opposition is not allowed to raise its voice. He said the opposition felt that its voice was being muzzled.

He observed that the Chairman must not be seen to be partisan, adding, that the functioning of the RS sets standards for the legislatures of the rest of the country as to how to conduct their functioning.

Speaking on the occasion, Pramod Tiwari said that the Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge was not being given fair treatment in the House. He pointed out that there is a standard procedure that whenever the Leader of the House or the Leader of the Opposition rises to speak, they get preference over all other members.

However, he added, in the LoP Kharge’s case, there was complete partisanship as he was not allowed to speak and while speaking, his mike was frequently switched off.

He pointed out that Kharge is one of the most senior parliamentarians with over fifty years of experience and he always raised the issues related to the exploited, downtrodden, and the poor.

Congress Deputy Leader also referred to the unparliamentary language used by the BJP member Ghanshyam Tiwari against Kharge. He said the opposition members wanted to know the status of the ‘breach of privilege’ motion against Tiwari.

He said although Ghanshyam Tiwari had expressed his readiness outside the House to seek an apology for what he spoke about Kharge, the Opposition leaders wanted that he should do so in the House where he had made these remarks.

The Congress leaders also referred to senior MP Jaya Bachchan finding the RS Chairman’s tone unacceptable. They also condemned the censure motion moved against the Opposition, saying it was not the motion of the House, but that of the NDA.

On a further question, both Maken and Tiwari maintained that all options are open. They said all forums will be used to ensure that the voice of people gets raised in the Parliament and will not be mute spectators to the murder of democracy.