NEW DELHI:

Rajya Sabha

saw a verbal spat between Chairman Jagdeep

Dhankhar

and leader of

opposition

(LoP)

Mallikarjun Kharge

on Wednesday when the latter sought to raise an “emergent issue” (disqualification of wrestler

Vinesh Phogat

) during the discussion on Appropriation Bill, but it was turned down by the Chair. When

Kharge

and Congress members asked why the Chair was not allowing him to speak, Dhankhar charged the Congress chief of questioning him at the drop of a hat.

As Dhankhar insisted the LoP and Congress MPs to take recourse to rules and declined to accept their demand to intervene when the discussion was on, opposition members walked out of the House. Dhankhar criticised the conduct of opposition members, including Kharge, accusing them of “questioning” the Chair and “walking out on their constitutional duty”.
During discussion on Appropriation (No 2) Bill 2024 and Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation (No 3) Bill, 2024, opposition members kept sloganeering on justice for Phogat but Dhankhar said nothing would go on record. Dhankhar said LoP wanted the Chair to interrupt the debate without taking recourse to any rule and shared his message seeking permission to take the floor without declaring the issue.