• Source:JND
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The Parliament has been witnessing a logjam over a number of issues, including the violence in Manipur, since the beginning of the Monsoon Session on July 20. The opposition leaders have been demanding a full-fledged discussion on the issue including a statement by the prime minister in the Parliament. Both houses -- Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha -- have seen repeated adjournments amid massive ruckus by the opposition leaders.

Amid all the heated exchanges between the opposition and treasury benches, the upper house of the Parliament, Rajya Sabha, on Thursday witnessed a banter between the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar. The banter, however, was short-lived and the rancour returned as soon as Kharge accused the RS Chair of defending the prime minister.

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Today's proceedings began with LoP Mallikarjun Kharge demanding a discussion on the Manipur issue under Rule 267, under which all other businesses are set aside and the issue is taken up on priority. However, responding to the LoP, Dhankar said that the government is ready for a discussion on the Manipur issue under Rule 167, which provides for a short-duration discussion.

Kharge, while noting that the discussions under Rule 267 are a precedent, asked "how it has become a prestige issue"?. "A notice under Rule 267 demands that all other business be set aside and the issue taken up on priority. This has been a precedent. I don't understand how this has become a prestige issue. You told us that there must be a reason to hold a discussion under Rule 267, we have told you the reason," Kharge told Dhankar.

Kharge further said, "Yesterday I requested you, but you were probably angry," triggering a peal of loud laughter among the members of the upper house. The Chairman also laughed and responded in a light-hearted way saying, "I am a married man for more than 45 years. I am never angry". Dhankar's response again sent peals of laughter through the House.

Referring to senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, Dhankar further said, "Mr Chidambaram, a very distinguished senior advocate will know. As senior advocate, we have no right to show our anger, at least to the authority. You (Kharge) are an authority, Sir." Responding to the chair, Kharge said, "You don't show it, but you are angry within," starting another round of laughs.

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The respite from the heated atmosphere in Rajya Sabha ended as soon as Kharge accused Dhankar of defending the prime minister and not accepting even small suggestions from the opposition leaders. "You don't accept even a small suggestion. We demanded that the Prime Minister address the House, you did not accept that. You are defending the Prime Minister," he said, drawing a sharp response from the chair.

"We have a constitutional democracy at every level, our Prime Minister is not needed to be defended by me, he has come to be defended on global platforms. Every Indian should be proud of it. I am not required to defend anyone," Dhankhar said, adding that he needs to defend the Constitution. "We should be proud of the government. I am not concerned with politics, I am concerned with governance," he added.

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