NEW DELHI: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has expressed deep regret over the repeated disruptions in the Rajya Sabha, describing the situation as a disgrace to the “mother of democracy.”
Speaking at a special session of the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly on Saturday, Dhankhar, said the inability of the House to function dishonours the principles of the Constitution. “Entering into the fourth quarter of the adoption of the Indian Constitution, we could not work for a single moment in Rajya Sabha. My head is in shame. We cannot afford this kind of spectacle in a country that is the mother of democracy,” he said.
His comments come amidst persistent adjournments in Parliament, with opposition protests over issues such as the Adani controversy, violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal, and the situation in Manipur preventing the House from conducting business.
On Friday, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned within 15 minutes, continuing a pattern of disruption that has plagued the Winter Session. Dhankhar criticised the misuse of parliamentary tools like Rule 267, which he said was being “weaponised as a mechanism of disruption.” He lamented, “We are creating a very bad precedent. We are dishonouring the people of this country and not coming up to their expectations.”
Dhankhar urged political parties to put aside differences and focus on national priorities, saying, “We cannot, under any situation, keep any interest above our national interest.” He commended the orderly conduct of the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly, calling it a “beacon of hope” and contrasting it with the chaos in Parliament. He also highlighted India’s economic progress, noting that while the country is now the fifth-largest global economy, achieving developed nation status will require collective effort and significant growth in citizens’ incomes.
The opposition, meanwhile, has criticised the government, accusing it of enabling parliamentary adjournments rather than opposing them. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh questioned the government’s approach, saying, “The big mystery is why the government is not resisting adjournments but instead facilitating the aggression of INDIA parties.”
Dhankhar concluded by urging lawmakers to reflect on their responsibilities, warning that the youth are watching closely and will hold them accountable. “The youth, as watchdogs of democracy, will hold us accountable,” he said.