In an unprecedented turn of events, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar walked out of the House on Thursday afternoon amidst demands to discuss wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s controversial disqualification from the Paris Olympics. The disqualification prevented Phogat from competing in the gold medal bout, a decision that has sparked significant political uproar.
The session took a dramatic turn when Jagdeep Dhankhar, expressing his frustration, named Congress MP Jairam Ramesh for “laughing” during the proceedings. “I know your habit…” Dhankhar said, criticizing the lack of respect for the Chair.
Shameful behavior by @Jairam_Ramesh led to Dhankhar Sahib ji leaving the chair!
Congress leaders lack even basic decency in Parliament and then they have the audacity to blame others. pic.twitter.com/wWyF1mcrie
— Satya Kumar Yadav (@satyakumar_y) August 8, 2024
“It is not me… but the post of the Chairperson that is being challenged… it is being challenged because people think the person sitting in the chair is not worthy,” Jagdeep Dhankhar stated.
Following further comments from the opposition, Jagdeep Dhankhar pointed directly at Ramesh, saying, “Now I have only one option… after what I have seen today, I cannot continue sitting in this chair.” He then stood up, folded his hands, and walked out of the House.
A video shared by BJP leader Satya Kumar Yadav showed a nearly empty House at the time, with Yadav criticizing Ramesh’s behavior on social media. “Shameful behavior by @Jairam_Ramesh led to Dhankhar Sahib ji leaving the chair! Congress leaders lack even basic decency in Parliament and then they have the audacity to blame others,” Yadav tweeted.
ALSO READ: Vinesh Phogat announces retirement, ace wrestler Bajrang Punia says ‘haraya gayi hai’
Earlier in the session, the Congress-led INDIA bloc staged a walkout after Dhankhar refused to allocate time to discuss Phogat’s disqualification. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien were both shut down by the Chairperson when they attempted to speak on the issue.
Kharge questioned who was responsible for the heartbreak of Vinesh Phogat, who was poised to become the first Indian woman wrestler to win an Olympic gold. However, he was instructed to sit down. O’Brien faced a similar response, with Dhankhar condemning his actions and threatening to show him the door if his conduct continued.
As the uproar in the House escalated, opposition MPs walked out in protest. Jagdeep Dhankhar then accused the opposition of believing only their “hearts are bleeding.” He stated, “The entire nation is in pain… But to politicize it is the greatest disrespect to her (Phogat).”
ALSO READ: Vinesh Phogat approaches Court of Arbitration for Sport against Olympics disqualification
On Tuesday, members of the INDIA bloc walked out of the Lok Sabha in protest after Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya’s brief statement about aid given to Phogat.
Phogat’s disqualification has triggered a political storm, with the opposition demanding justice for the 29-year-old wrestler, who is also one of the key figures in a #MeToo protest against former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh, the former chief of the national wrestling body.
A verdict on the Indian Olympic Association’s “strong protest” against Phogat’s disqualification is expected this evening. However, sources have indicated that a reprieve is unlikely. Phogat was disqualified for being 100 grams overweight for the 50-kg event.
In a surprising announcement, Vinesh Phogat declared her retirement from the sport this morning, adding another layer to the ongoing controversy.
