Rajya Sabha: Kharge’s Concern Over Dhankhar Farewell, Pledges Cooperation

Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, has expressed that he was ‘disheartened’ by the lack of a formal farewell for former Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. Speaking during the welcome of the new Chairman, CP Radhakrishnan, Kharge highlighted that the sudden exit left members without a chance to bid adieu. He pledged the Congress party’s cooperation to the new Chairman for the efficient conduct of parliamentary proceedings. Kharge also made a strong plea for equal treatment of the Opposition and Treasury benches, asserting that this impartiality is vital for the office’s respect. He underscored the commitment to Constitutional values and parliamentary decorum. In response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju admonished Kharge for referencing Dhankhar’s departure on what he termed a ‘solemn occasion,’ recalling the opposition’s past use of critical language and the filing of a removal motion against the former Chairman.