New Delhi: Both the Rajya Sabha chairman and the Lok Sabha speaker have refused to intervene in parliament proceedings in ways demanded by opposition parties on Wednesday, instead blaming the opposition for disrupting proceedings and making unfair demands.
Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankar said he cannot and will not direct Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come and speak in parliament. “I had in categorical terms indicated very firmly on a proper constitutional premise and precedent that from this chair, I will be violating my oath if I impart a directive for presence of the prime minister. That has never been done… I cannot make up for ignorance of the statute and the Constitution. If the prime minister wants to come, like everyone else, it is his prerogative. From this chair, a directive of this nature, which has never been issued, will not be issued,” Dhankar stated.
The chairman also said he had received 58 notices under Rule 267 on the violence and unrest in Manipur, but these notices were not accepted as he had already accepted a short duration discussion on the issue under Rule 176 on July 20. The opposition is not satisfied with the government’s proposal for a short duration discussion, and insists that the prime minister must be present. They continued to protest in the House after Dhankar said he would not issue a directive to Modi.
“You have legal luminaries on your side, find out from them. They will help you out, that under Constitution and the prescription thereunder, I cannot give the direction, I shall not,” Dhankar told Congress chief and leader of the opposition Mallikarjun Kharge. The opposition then walked out of the House.
Meanwhile, in the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla was reportedly “upset” by disruptions and so decided to stay away from the proceedings on Wednesday morning. “Sources” reportedly told ANI, that Speaker Om Birla has decided to refrain from chairing the Lower House until the members behave in accordance with the dignity of the House.
Birla claims he was upset by the behaviour of both the opposition and treasury benches in the Lok Sabha.