Spokespersons: Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress President & LoP, Rajya Sabha, and Shri Jairam Ramesh, MP and General Secretary (Communications), AICC, along with INDIA bloc leaders: Yesterday in the Rajya Sabha, all the ‘INDIA’ parties presented a no-confidence motion. What action has been taken on it so far? We have no information. Today, all the leaders of the ‘INDIA’ parties are present here in the Rajya Sabha. I would request the Leader of the Opposition and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge ji to start the press conference today.

Shri Mallikarjun Kharge said- Welcome to this press conference… all my friends. We are here to speak on the sensitive matter in regard to the notice of resolution for removal of the Vice President of India, who is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. I am very sad to say that the Chairman left us no option, but to go-ahead with this notice. For the last 3 years, rather than providing time and space for Opposition members to raise critical issues, the Chairman has resorted to schooling senior leaders, speaking down to them like a headmaster as though they were students in a classroom. He never misses an opportunity to insult Opposition leaders whether they are senior or junior. There are a lot of members who have got more experience than others, but unfortunately, he (Chairman) acts as the advocate of the ruling party. He always tries to insult the opposition leaders.

For the first time in our history, we have a Vice President who openly criticizes Opposition parties in public forums and behaves as a spokesperson for the ruling party, sometimes even outperforming them in their role. The Chairman openly encourages and provokes the Treasury Benches to make outrageous remarks against the Opposition, undermining the dignity of the House… He rejects all the notices, but on the same subject or under 267, the ruling party members give notice. He allows them.

We are fed-up with his behaviour and his partiality… that’s why we have brought this resolution and we are ready to tell this on his face also if he allows us to speak.

Then, this is not just a breach of protocol but a betrayal of the Constitution and the people of India. This notice of motion for removal of the Vice President is not about personal grievances or political battles. Finally, we humbly appeal to the people of India to understand that this notice has been filed after thorough consideration and deliberation, with the sole purpose of safeguarding the Constitution and protecting the integrity of our parliamentary democracy. Wednesday, December 11, 2024