Opposition alleges Vice President partial to Treasury benches on Rule 267

The Opposition alleged that Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar was being partial to the Treasury benches by allowing them to raise the same issue they had given a notice for raising under Rule 267. BJP members Sudhanshu Trivedi and Iranna Kadadi had given notices demanding a discussion on MUDA and Valmiki Commission “scams” under Rule 267. Dhankhar declared that this cannot be permitted and moved on to Zero Hour for discussing Special Mentions.

The Opposition objected when Dhankhar called Kadadi, BJP MP from Karnataka, to speak on a similar issue related to the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in the southern state breaching the rights of backwards, Dalits and tribals. Congress members insisted this was not acceptable and had not been allowed when their notices under Rule 267 were rejected by the Chair.

Former finance minister P Chidambaram objected to Dhankhar’s move. Trinamool member Sushmita Deb said she has been trying to raise the important issue of floods in Assam under Rule 267 but was not allowed.

Dhankhar defended himself and asked the Opposition to maintain decorum. The House moved on to Special Mentions and Deb spoke on the flood situation in Assam a few minutes later.