Don’t insult Chair, says Dhankhar as Kharge accuses him of having ‘varna mindset’

Dhankhar ticked off Ramesh saying, “You are so intelligent, so talented, so gifted that you should immediately come and take the seat in place of Kharge. By and large, you are doing his job, insulting him (Kharge).”

The Congress president immediately retorted, saying the chairman was trying to bring in the “varna (caste) system”. “The varna system is still there in your mind. That’s why you are calling Ramesh very intelligent, and I am dull.”
Pointing towards Congress MP Sonia Gandhi, Kharge said, “The one who made me (LoP) is sitting here. “Naa (Jairam) Ramesh mujhe bana sakte hain, naa aap mujhe bana sakte hai, janata ne mujhe banaya hai (Neither can Jairam Ramesh give me power, nor can you, people have given me the power).”

An agitated Dhankhar accused Kharge of “twisting” his statements and also disrespecting the Chair. “You cannot every time run down the Chair. You (Kharge) cannot disrespect the Chair… You stand suddenly and speak whatever you want without understanding what I am saying.”
“Never in the history of this country and parliamentary democracy and Rajya Sabha proceedings, has there been such disregard for the Chair, as from you,” said Dhankhar. “Time for you (Kharge) to reflect. Your dignity has been attacked multiple times. I have always tried to protect your dignity,” he said.

The ongoing session of the Upper House has seen repeated acrimonious scenes between the two senior leaders. Last week, Dhankhar had expressed anguish over Kharge trooping into the Well of the House during an Opposition protest, saying it was for the first time that a person occupying the post of LoP had engaged in such “misconduct”.
On Monday again, there was a heated exchange between the LoP and the Chairman following which Dhankhar said Kharge’s remarks would be expunged from the House records.

“I have a lot of patience, I have tolerated this disrespect a lot, yet you stand up and twist my words. Yesterday was a horrible day, yet I have always stood up to protect your dignity,” Dhankhar said on Tuesday, recalling the acrimonious incident from the day before.