NEW DELHI: Taking a dig at the opposition parties on the dismissed “no-confidence” motion against him as Chairman of Rajya Sabha, vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday said that the opposition tried to perform “bypass surgery” with a vegetable knife. In fact, Dhankhar said, the notice for his removal was like a “rusted knife”.
This was his first public reaction since the opposition MPs in the Upper House submitted a notice seeking his ouster, which has been dismissed. “Just look at the notice against the vice-president. Just look at the six links they have given. You’ll be shocked. Chandra Shekhar ji once said, ‘Never use a vegetable-cutting knife for bypass surgery’. The notice wasn’t even a vegetable-cutting knife; it was rusted. There was haste.”
Addressing representatives of Women Journalist Welfare Trust at his official residence, Dhankhar said that any constitutional position has to be vindicated by commitment to sublimity, sterling qualities, and constitutionalism. “We are not in a position to settle scores. Because for the success of democracy, two things are inalienable: expression and dialogue,” he added.
Dhankhar said one must listen to the other point of view before speaking out. Without these two elements, democracy can neither be nurtured nor blossom, he added.
On the role of media, Dhankhar said, “Journalism is a tough game. To maintain journalistic ethics, to be investigative, to look at areas the govt doesn’t want you to see, a welfare trust and a strong legal body are essential to safeguard your interests.”
With regard to the state of parliamentary debates, the VP said, “Have you noticed in 10, 20, 30 years, any great debate? Any great contribution made on the floor of the House? We are in the news for the wrong reasons. The pressure has to come from your category. Accountability must be enforced by the media, the only conveyance to the people at large. Media can strike a chord with the people and generate pressure on public representatives.”
