NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday strongly defended the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and said it had “unimpeachable credentials” and he would not permit any member to single out an organisation which was “doing national service”.
Dhankhar’s comments came after SP member Ramji Lal Suman, while talking about National Testing Agency chairperson, said for BJP, a person’s calibre was measured by whether he was from RSS or not.Dhankhar immediately intervened and said, “I hereby rule that RSS is an organisation that has full constitutional rights to participate in the development journey of this nation. This organisation bears unimpeachable credentials, comprises of people who are deeply committed to serving the nation selflessly.”
He further said, “RSS is an organisation which is a global think tank of the highest order.”
This led to a furore as the opposition, led by LoP Mallikarjun Kharge, protested and said the member be allowed to express his views. Kharge said if a member was speaking within rules and not violating any rule, he or she should not be prevented from making his statement. He went on to say that what Suman said was “correct” and what Dhankhar was doing was not right.
The chairman said Kharge indicated that the chair could intervene when there was a transgression of rules. “I agree with that. The member wasn’t transgressing rules, he was trampling on the Constitution. I won’t permit a member to single out an organisation which is doing national service. This is a violation of the Constitution.”
Dhankhar said he’d noticed that “people are engaging in divisive activities”, adding that “this is a pernicious design, a sinister mechanism to run down the growth of the country”.
Dhankhar’s comments came after SP member Ramji Lal Suman, while talking about National Testing Agency chairperson, said for BJP, a person’s calibre was measured by whether he was from RSS or not.Dhankhar immediately intervened and said, “I hereby rule that RSS is an organisation that has full constitutional rights to participate in the development journey of this nation. This organisation bears unimpeachable credentials, comprises of people who are deeply committed to serving the nation selflessly.”
He further said, “RSS is an organisation which is a global think tank of the highest order.”
This led to a furore as the opposition, led by LoP Mallikarjun Kharge, protested and said the member be allowed to express his views. Kharge said if a member was speaking within rules and not violating any rule, he or she should not be prevented from making his statement. He went on to say that what Suman said was “correct” and what Dhankhar was doing was not right.
The chairman said Kharge indicated that the chair could intervene when there was a transgression of rules. “I agree with that. The member wasn’t transgressing rules, he was trampling on the Constitution. I won’t permit a member to single out an organisation which is doing national service. This is a violation of the Constitution.”
Dhankhar said he’d noticed that “people are engaging in divisive activities”, adding that “this is a pernicious design, a sinister mechanism to run down the growth of the country”.