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Parliament News: Congress-led opposition INDIA bloc on Tuesday submitted a notice to Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Modi to move a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar, alleging a lack of impartial functioning of the house under his chairmanship. The opposition accused Dhankar of bias towards the ruling party, saying that he stifled the voices of the opposition parties.

According to a report by PTI, the notice has the signatures of 60 opposition MPs, which seek to remove Dhankar from his post. All INDIA bloc parties including Congress, Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Samajwadi Party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, CPI-M, CPI and the Rashtriya Janata Dal have signed the document, moved under Article 67(B) of the Constitution. The minimum required number for moving a motion to remove the vice president is 50.

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"ALL parties belonging to the INDIA group have had no option but to formally submit a no-confidence motion against the learned Hon'ble Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for the extremely partisan manner in which he has been conducting the proceedings of the Council of States. It has been a very painful decision for the INDIA parties to take, but in the interests of parliamentary democracy they have had to take this step," Congress General Secretary (In-charge, Communications) Jairam Ramesh posted on X.

However, a report by PTI quoting sources, stated that the top Congress leaders who hold Constitutional posts have not signed the notice. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the floor leaders of various opposition parties are also not among the signatories. INDIA bloc parties had in August this year also considered submitting a notice for moving a resolution to remove the vice president from his office.

Why Jagdeep Dhankar Is Facing No-Confidence Motion?

The notice seeking a no-confidence motion against Jagdeep Dhankar comes in the wake of turbulent ties between opposition parties and the Rajya Sabha chairman, over multiple issues, the latest being his nod to the members of BJP to raise the "Congress-Soros link" issue in the House.

Dhankar's permission prompted chaos in the House as BJP MPs accused Congress leader Sonia Gandhi of having alleged links with American Billionaire George Soros. In return, Congress MPs started raising questions over bribery charges against Gautam Adani by the US Department of Justice, accusing the ruling dispensation and PM Modi of protecting the Adani group, which led to the adjournment of the House without conducting any business.

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Speaking on the notice to remove Dhankar, Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil said, "The Parliament is not working as the ruling party shouts at the opposition. It is the responsibility of the ruling party to run the Parliament. Our fight is with the ideology of the government but the person sitting on the chair is far from the political party."

"Till today the chair did not let the opposition get so disappointed. Today Nadda ji was speaking and his mic was on and no one was stopped. Parmod Tiwari stood to speak but his mic got off after a few seconds. INDIA bloc leaders signed the no-confidence motion. Today it was supposed to be submitted but leaders of the INDIA bloc will decide the strategy," he added.

According to Article 67(b) of the Constitution, "Vice-President may be removed from his office by a resolution of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) 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."

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The first session of the winter Parliament commenced on November 25, with both Houses getting adjourned fairly early due to disruptions. The winter session will go on till December 20.

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