Opposition walks out of Rajya Sabha over BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari's remarks against Kharge; demands apology

New Delhi [India], August 9 : The Opposition leaders walked out of Rajya Sabha on Friday after a heated exchange with Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar over BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari's remarks against Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge.
Congress MPs demanded an apology from Tiwari for his remarks made on August 1, but the Rajya Sabha chairman insisted that the issue was resolved privately with the leaders.
The Opposition Rajya Sabha MPs also demanded to expunge the remarks of Ghanshyam Tiwari about LoP, while Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan made remarks about the tone of Chairman Dhankhar.
The Chairman took strong exception to Jaya Bachchan's remarks, saying he does not want schooling and that he does not go by any script and has his script. On this, the Opposition members staged a walkout from Rajya Sabha.
As the Opposition MPs walked out, the Chairman referred to the anniversary of the Quit India movement (August 9) and said "The opposition was quitting parliament, their duty."
BJP President JP Nadda said that the conduct of the Opposition was improper and condemnable. He moved 'Ninda Prastav' over the behaviour of the Opposition in the House.
After the Opposition walked out of the House, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan demanded an apology from the Opposition leaders and said that it was an insult to the democratic values of the country, democracy, and the Constitution.
"This House is not just a building of bricks and mortar, it is the sacred temple of democracy. I have been a member of Lok Sabha 6 times and Vidhan Sabha 6 times. But I have never seen such unruly behaviour of the opposition in my life. This is not only an insult to the Chair, it is an insult to the democratic values of the country, democracy, and the Constitution. Today it has been proved that the irresponsible opposition is trying to push the country into anarchy... The opposition should apologize for this," he said.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said that Ghanshyam Tiwari used a language and tone in the House that lacked dignity and that he should accept his mistake in the House.
"It's a tradition that when the Leader of the House or the LoP which is a constitutional post, stands to speak, both should be given the priority, but this is not being followed. Ghanshyam Tiwari has used a language and tone in the House that lacks dignity. After that, he accepted his fault but in person. We demand that since the incident happened in the House, he should accept his mistake in the House...Jaya Bachchan who is the seniormost member has said the same thing and we all stand by her," he said.
In her exchange of words with Dhankhar, Jaya Bachchan said that she objected to the tone used by the Chair.
"I objected to the tone used by the Chair. We are not schoolchildren. Some of us are senior citizens. I was upset with the tone and especially when the Leader of Opposition stood up to speak, he switched off the mike. How can you do this? You have to allow the Leader of the Opposition to speak...I mean using unparliamentary words every time which I do not want to say in front of you all... He said you (Jaya) may be a celebrity, I do not care. I am not asking him to care," she said.
He keeps saying to members "You are a nuisance, 'Buddhiheen,' she claimed.
"I am saying I am a member of Parliament. This is my fifth term. I know what I am saying. The way things are being spoken in Parliament these days, nobody has ever spoken before. I want an apology," the SP MP added.
Reacting to Ghanshaym Tiwari's remarks, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that since Tiwari "insulted" the LoP in the House, he should apologize in the House in front of everyone, not in person.
"Time and again Ganshaym Tiwari has openly insulted LoP in the House. Today, it was said that Ghanshaym Tiwari came, to meet with the chair (Chairman of Rajya Sabha), and praised Mallikarjun Kharge. We demanded that what he has said to the chair in person should also be spoken in the House... He (RS Chairman) kept interrupting me time and again, I have no issue with that but the LoP has been disrespected and a constitutional post has been demeaned," he said.
Earlier on August 1, LoP Mallikarjun Kharge became emotional over the 'parivarvaad' statement by Ghanshyam Tiwari during a parliamentary session and urged Chairman Dhankhar to expunge those remarks in the House regarding his political journey.
In a sombre tone, while taking umbrage to the remarks by the BJP MP, Kharge said that he felt bad about it and did not "wish to live for long in this environment."
Soon after the laying of the listed paper in the House, the Congress leader pointed out that BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari had referred to his political journey and said his (Kharge's) entire family' was in politics.
"He made a comment regarding 'parivarvaad.' I request that this be expunged from the records," Kharge said.