TMC Files Privilege Motion Against Kiren Rijiju Over 'Unworthy of House' Statement

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India] December 12 : TMC MP Sagarika Ghose has filed a privilege motion in the Rajya Sabha against Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju for making insulting comments about opposition MPs. Ghose, and other 60 opposition leaders, accused Rijiju of insulting members by calling them “not worthy of being in the House.” The motion was submitted in the middle of increased conflicts in Parliament. 

Opposition Criticizes Rijiju’s Statements

The comment in question came during a conversation in the Rajya Sabha, where Rijiju criticized opposition MPs for their attacks on Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. “If you cannot respect the chair you have no right to be a member of this House,” Rijiju stated. Ghose argued that Rijiju’s statements damaged parliamentary dignity and accused him of misusing his position to insult opposition leaders.

No-Confidence Motion on Dhankhar Adds Fuel

The controversy follows a no-confidence motion submitted by 60 opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc against Vice President Dhankhar. The motion accuses Dhankhar of being “extremely partisan” in his role as Rajya Sabha Chairman. This has further divided proceedings in the Upper House, with Rijiju defending Dhankhar while the opposition demands responsibility.

Parliament Proceedings Interrupted

Thursday’s Rajya Sabha proceedings were harmed by protests and interruptions. Opposition MPs, already upset over Rijiju’s remarks, intensified their protests over various issues, including the no-confidence motion. Despite efforts to maintain order, the session was adjourned until Friday morning with little progress made. Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha continued its business unaffected by the chaos in the Upper House.

Ghose Calls Rijiju’s Behaviour ‘Unbecoming’

Ghose, who serves as TMC’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, stressed that Rijiju’s comments were inappropriate for his office. “The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs... has chosen to repeatedly insult the Opposition,” she said, stressing that such behavior is harmful to democratic values. Her privilege motion proceeds to hold Rijiju responsible for his comments.

Tensions Rise in Parliament

The current argument between the Treasury and Opposition benches highlights deep-rooted differences, with both sides accusing each other of intimidating parliamentary norms. The privilege motion and the no-confidence notice against Dhankhar signal a challenging phase for parliamentary dignity, with Friday’s session expected to see continued war of words.

 By Manasa Permulla