NEW DELHI: A new issue riveted Rajya Sabha on Friday as Chairman of the House, Jagdeep Dhankar, said “a ward of currency notes” was found at the seat alloted to Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi, a claim which Singhvi said left him “quite astonished”.
Dhankar said that during the “routine anti-sabotage check” of the chamber after the adjournment of the House on Thursday, a wad of currency notes was recovered by the security officials from seat number 222 which is presently allotted Singhvi.
The latest charge against Shinghvi opened a new front of verbal tirade between the ruling BJP and the Congress as both the parties resorted to claims and counter claims.
Congress calls charges ‘diversion’
While the Congress called the incident a “diversion tactis” by the BJP to dissuade from the discussion on issue of industrialist Gautam Adani‘s US indictment, the BJP sough detailed probe into the matter lebelling the issue “abnormal” and “of a serious nature”.
Shinghvi’s party colleague and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh came out in his defence, alleging that the BJP is not letting the Rajya Sabha run as part its strategy to settle scores with the opposition, which has been tough with the government in Lok Sabha on Adani indictment issue.
“This is BJP’s strategy, a diversionary tactic. The issues we are raising, farmer issues, the Chairman himself has raised it and these are many big issues. We want a discussion on the bribery allegations in the Modani scam. So, to divert attention from these, they raise new issues,” Jairam Ramesh alleged in a statement he gave to news agency ANI.
He further said: “For the first time, I saw that today the BJP MPs, were very eager to adjourn the session…We are demanding in Lok Sabha that they should discuss the Modani scam, Lok Sabha is being adjourned. This is the strategy of the government that you are not letting the Lok Sabha run, we will not let Rajya Sabha run. Running the House is the responsibility of the government. We are giving constructive cooperation… The government does not want any discussion in Rajya Sabha.”
BJP says ‘dignity of House hurt’
BJP chief and Rajya Sabha MP JP Nadda said the incident hurts “the dignity of the House” and sough detailed investigation into the matter.
“This incident is abnormal and is of a serious nature. It doesn’t mean to get divided in the ruling or opposition party. This incident hurts the dignity of the House… Sir, I have faith in your ruling that a detailed investigation will be conducted and everything will be cleared,” Nadda was quoted by ANI.
Taking a dig at the Congress party BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP, Sudhanshu Trivedi said: “Congress leaders have so much money that they don’t even bother to take account of the money which is left (on the bench in Parliament).”
He further alleged, “Since no leader came to collect the money, it raises doubts on many sources of the money that people know whose money it is but they don’t come to collect it. This incident should be investigated.
Accusing Congress of ducking accountability, Trivedi said: “Congress, which used to question everything, is today refusing to give an account of the case recovered from Parliament.”
Dhankar-Kharge faceoff
Dhankar, as Rajya Sabha Chairman, disclosing Singhvi’s name left Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge livid as he objected the Chair naming his Rajya Sabha colleague when the probe in under way.
“I am not going beyond that, I know that you will not allow us. You said that this matter is under investigation then his/her name should not have been taken. I request that until the investigation is done and the authenticity of the incident is established, a member should not be named. Can he do like this? Aaisa chillar kaam krti hai aur deshj ko of barbaad kr rahe hai yeh log (BJP),” said Kharge, who is also the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha.
Dhankar, in a reply to Kharge, said, “The Leader of the Opposition has said one thing that when the matter is under investigation he should not be making debate of it. I would really appreciate and this may be followed. Number 2, in responding to the LoP I was extremely concerned and therefore I might myself asserted whether the member has really attended the House. I could not go more than that.”
Rijiju backs Dhankar naming Singhvi
Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju also weighed in support of Dhankar, saying “the Chairman has rightly pointed out the seat number and the member who occupies that particular seat number”.
“As per the routine protocol, the anti-sabotage team checked the seats just to wind up the proceedings and the house. During that procedure, the note was found and the seat numbers were deciphered and the members also signed that day. I don’t understand why there should be an objection that the Chair should not take the name of the member,” Rijiju said.
Rijiju, like JP Nadda, also advocated for the serious investigation, saying, “The Chairman has rightly pointed out the seat number and the member who occupies that particular seat number. What is wrong with that? Why there should be an objection?…Don’t you think that while we are going towards digital India, carrying a bundle of notes in the House is appropriate? We don’t carry note bundles in the house. I fully agree with the observation of the Chairman that there must be a serious investigation and the concerns raised by the members are also very genuine.”
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