Rajya Sabha today saw a heated exchange between the opposition and treasury benches, over the deployment of security personnel in the House. The Deputy Chairman, Harivansh, denied the claims of Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge that CISF personnel were deployed to stop members from exercising their right to protest.
Harivansh also expressed concern over Leader of Opposition Kharge making public his letter to the Chair. He said Kharge's letter to him falls in "privileged communication" and should not have been shared with the media even before it had reached him. The heated exchanges between the two sides reached a flashpoint when Kharge alleged that the Opposition MPs were prevented from entering the well by CISF personnel as if they were terrorists and asked if the chair was conducting the house or Home Minister Amit Shah, to whom the CISF reports.
Earlier at 11 AM, soon after the listed papers and reports were tabled, Harivansh lamented that Kharge, in his letter to him, had stated that CISF personnel were deployed in the House and were preventing Opposition leaders from exercising their democratic rights.
"The dignity of the Chair does not allow it (letter) to go to the media," Harivansh said. He further said that it is a worrying fact that incidents of constant disruptions are occurring in the current session. Despite repeated appeals by the Chair, several members have willfully violated the provisions of Rule 235 and Rule 238, disrupting the House, he said.
"We members should self-introspect whether such actions enhance the dignity and decorum of the House," Harivansh said, adding the opposition’s conduct was “undemocratic”.
He then questioned — how raising slogans, entering the Well of the House, and disturbing other members can be termed as "democratic right of protest".
Congress Chief Kharge said he has issued a press note on the letter for the benefit of the members, further highlighting that the Opposition was protesting in a democratic way and will continue to do so.
"CISF is being brought into the House. Are we terrorists?" Kharge said. Replying to Kharge’s question, Harivansh asserted, "They were not from CISF. It was a parliamentary security service".
The Congress leader said the parliamentary security service is well-equipped to provide security to MPs. "But do you want to run the House by bringing in police and military," he said. Harivansh stressed that the staff were from parliamentary services and urged Kharge not to mislead the House.
"It is not new for security personnel to be present in the House. The foundation of this service was laid in 1930 by the first elected Indian president of the Central Legislative Assembly, Vitthal Bhai Patel. These security personnel have been doing their job since then, and they are specially trained. They conduct their duties while keeping the dignity of the House in mind, without using any kind of force," the Chair asserted.
The remarks were strongly condemned by the Treasury benches. Calling the conduct of the Opposition MPs ‘anarchy’, the Leader of the House, J P Nadda, asked them to take tutions from him as they would have to remain in the opposition for the next few decades. Hearing this, the Opposition MPs rose to their feet and called out Nadda for his statement. After reassembling, the Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day amid continued protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
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