A day after Kharge wrote to Dhankhar that “he was firmly in favour of dialogue and discussion”, the latter’s office has delivered another letter to Kharge on Saturday evening, saying he was repeatedly rebuffed by Kharge, who rejected his offers of interaction, The Sunday Express has learnt.
“I wish your assertion in your December 22 communication that “we firmly believe in fostering dialogue and discussion” was reflected in actions,” the letter says. Dhankhar said that during the entire session, despite his repeated requests in the House and by way of written communications to secure Kharge’s indulgence for interaction, the same did not fructify.
“Painfully I had to suffer in the House your stance ‘rejecting’ my offer for interaction in Chamber,” it says, adding: “On reflection you will agree that avoidance of interaction with the Chairman and rebuff to such request on the floor of the House by LoP is unwholesomely unprecedented and certainly is not in sync with well-established parliamentary practice, of which you are a veteran.”
Kharge had said he hoped that Dhankhar would accommodate the Opposition’s concerns and uphold the basic principle of parliamentary democracy. “The Government will have its way, but the Opposition must have its say in letter and spirit,” he said in his Friday letter.
On the suspension of Opposition MPs, Dhankhar says in the fresh letter that the premise of suspensions, contrary to Kharge’s stance, was deliberate disorder in the House by way of sloganeering, raising placards, entering the well of the House and gesticulating towards the Chair.
“Before taking the unpleasant step, all efforts and initiatives were exhausted at my end to secure order in the House, including by way of brief adjournments and seeking interactions in my Chamber,” he said.
The disorder was deliberate and strategised, he said, adding that he “does not seek to embarrass you by indicating the predetermined role of the main Opposition party in this communication”.
Dhankhar has also mentioned the incident of Rahul Gandhi filming the mimicry incident, even as he has not named the Congress MP. “You would recollect, I took similar recourse even when one of your members video-graphed proceedings of the House by sharing sensitive aspects of that episode with you in my chamber,” he said.
He has sent Kharge an invitation to meet him at his residence on Monday. “We need to move ahead and towards this I shall be grateful if you spare time for interaction on December 25 at 4 pm or a time of your convenience at Up-Rashtrapati Niwas,” the letter said.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First published on: 24-12-2023 at 03:07 IST
