An incensed Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched a blistering attack on the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha on Friday over their constant disrespect shown to "the Chair," ranging from its Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar downwards.
A noisy Question Hour saw Chouhan repeatedly say the House has to be considered not as a "building" but as a temple of democracy.
Drawing from his vast experience, Chouhan, who has been a six-time member of both the Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assembly, said that in his career, he had never seen such disrupting and inappropriate behavior on the part of the Opposition. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister condemned the Opposition of eyeing to disturb the country.
He expressed deep anguish over the behaviour of the Opposition and termed it not only an insult to the Chair but a challenge to the very democratic principles of the nation, an attack on democracy and the Constitution.
He said that the members of the House prepare for the replies and come out with answers meant for the larger public and not only for those who pose the questions. The Leader of the House termed Friday's incidents during the Question Hour as unprecedented and demanded an apology from the Opposition for its behaviour, saying it had brought "shame to the House and the country.".
The disruption began when Congress MP Jairam Ramesh raised a contentious issue related to remarks by BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari. Tiwari had termed the Congress President, Mallikarjun Kharge, a dynast in politics.
Tiwari had earlier triggered a huge uproar in the Rajya Sabha with his remark against Kharge. The latter reminded him that his father had named him after one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and hence, asked what was behind Tiwari's remarks. He claimed to be the first in his family to join politics and there was nothing on dynastic politics.
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