Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday criticized the Congress-led INDIA bloc for passing a “no confidence motion” against Rajya Sabha Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. Responding to the motion, Rijiju questioned how the opposition could accuse the Chairman of being biased toward the RSS.
Rijiju highlighted Jagdeep Dhankhar’s humble beginnings, stating that he comes from a poor farmer’s family and has risen to become the Vice President of India, representing the Jat community. He added, “The Vice President has always prioritized the prosperity of farmers, the poor, and the country as a whole. He provides guidance both inside and outside Parliament. We respect him; he is a gentleman. We feel proud to see him holding such an honorable position.”
The BJP leader strongly condemned the no confidence motion initiated by seven Lok Sabha MPs. He emphasized that the NDA holds a majority in the House and fully supports the Chairman. Rijiju stated, “The members of NDA are deeply impressed by his work and guidance. The INDI alliance, however, seems agitated due to internal coordination failures and has lost patience.”
What Happened in Parliament?
On Tuesday, December 10, over 50 MPs from the INDI bloc signed a petition for a “No Confidence Motion” against the Rajya Sabha Chairman, accusing him of BJP bias. The Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) were among the parties involved in filing the motion.
Kiren Rijiju called on the Congress to apologize and withdraw their letter alleging bias against the Chairman. He criticized the Congress for what he termed an act of disrespect, saying, “Congress has ruled this nation for over 60 years. Such an act is thought-provoking. The Speaker of the House deserves the utmost respect and dignity.”
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Rijiju further alleged that the notice was a tactic to divert attention from the opposition’s setbacks. He remarked, “From day one, the Government has been committed to ensuring the smooth functioning of the House and proper transaction of all business. The Business Advisory Committees of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha have already allotted time for bills and discussions, including those related to the Constitution of India in its 75th year of adoption.”
He pointed out that discussions in the Lok Sabha were scheduled for December 13 and 14, and in the Rajya Sabha for December 15 and 16. Rijiju questioned the need for the Congress and opposition leaders to serve the notice, accusing them of attempting to divert attention from issues involving Sonia Gandhi and George Soros. He added, “Such diversionary tactics will not succeed.”
Rijiju defended Jagdeep Dhankhar, stating, “The honorable Chairman of the Rajya Sabha represents the voice of the farmers of our country. Being the first from the Jat community to hold this position, this kind of assault on him is extremely regrettable. I urge the Congress and the members who signed the petition to apologize and refrain from such reprehensible behavior.”
Will the No Confidence Motion Pass?
For the no confidence motion to pass, it requires a simple majority—50% plus one of the total voter turnout. With the NDA holding a majority, the likelihood of the motion succeeding appears slim. The outcome remains to be seen.
