Parliament continued to be a battle-field virtually for the political parties on eleventh consecutive day on Wednesday as both ruling and Opposition benches trade charges against each other blaming neither of them are allowing smooth functioning of the Winter Session. With a brief functioning of the Lok Sabha which passed a bill to amend Railway Laws, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) parties of the Treasury bench were at par with the Congress led Opposition INDIA Bloc in sloganeering in and out of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha causing disruptions in both the Houses which ultimately led to adjournment of the day. Congress-led INDIA Bloc and BJP soon after the adjournments held Presser to flag concerns over non functioning of the Winter Session.

Parliament proceedings were washed out in the first week of the winter session starting November 25 due to protests by Opposition members demanding discussion on issues like the indictment of industrialist Gautam Adani in a United States court and Sambhal violence and since last week, the ruling BJP MPs have been raising the issue of alleged nexus between Soros and the Congress posing a threat to national security.

While several Opposition members alleged Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar’s “partisan” conduct which prompted them to move a notice for his removal as vice president and accused him of being the “biggest disrupter” whose conduct in the House has harmed the country’s dignity, BJP alleged Congress was attempting to “defame” Dhankhar and “insulting” the Jat community.

Alleging that politics has taken precedence over rules in the Upper House of Parliament, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the chairman’s conduct has been contrary to the dignity of the high post he holds. Several Opposition MPs greeted their BJP counterparts in Parliament premises with the tricolour in one hand and a red rose in the other, as they urged the ruling party to ensure that the House functions and all issues, including the Adani matter, are discussed. This is the latest in a series of unusual daily demonstrations led by the Congress over the Adani issue.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also offered the tricolour in the form of a card to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh when the latter was entering the main Parliament building. Rahul also met Speaker Om Birla and urged him to expunged remarks made by BJP MPs against him, and ensure the House functions smoothly.

Addressing a joint Press conference by the INDIA Bloc leaders at the Constitution Club, Kharge alleged that Dhankhar is working as a government spokesperson and acting like a school headmaster, often sermonising experienced Opposition leaders and preventing them from speaking in the House. “The Rajya Sabha chairman’s conduct has been contrary to the dignity of the post he holds. He targets Opposition leaders and often praises the government,” Kharge said.

“The Rajya Sabha chairman’s conduct in the House has harmed the country’s dignity. We have no hesitation in saying that the biggest disrupter in the Rajya Sabha is the chairman himself,” Kharge said. The Congress chief said since 1952, no resolution has been brought against the vice president under Article 67 of the Constitution as those who held the post previously never indulged in politics and remained unbiased. He said the Opposition parties have nothing against Dhankhar, “but he left us with no option but to go ahead with the notice for his removal”.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Tiruchi Siva said there is a blatant attack on the country’s democracy in Parliament by the ruling BJP and added that Opposition members, including the Leader of Opposition, is not allowed to raise issues. Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Nadimul Haque said he agreed with Congress’ stand. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee slammed both ruling BJP and Congress over the repeated adjournments in Parliament, blaming them for the disruptions. Javed Ali Khan of the Samajwadi Party (SP), said the Opposition has been totally made invisible in the Rajya Sabha.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (Democratic) MP In Rajya Sabha Manoj Jha also said the Opposition has been “invisibilised” in Parliament. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, “It seems that the chairman is not running Parliament but a circus. He eats up the time by speaking himself.” No leaders from the  Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were present.

Congress Deputy Leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to examine the party’s complaint against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s “defamatory remarks” against Rahul Gandhi and remove them from the record. Dubey’s remarks targeting Rahul Gandhi and seeking to link him to a US-based multi-billionaire, triggered uproar in the Lok Sabha, leading to adjournment of proceedings.

The BJP alleged that the US-based investor, investigative media platform Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and the Congress were trying to derail India’s success story under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

Keeping up its offensive against the Congress, the ruling party also alleged that the connection between US-based billionaire Soros and the Nehru-Gandhi family runs deep, extending beyond Sonia Gandhi’s ‘role’ as co-president of the Forum of Democratic Leaders - Asia Pacific (FDL-AP).

Addressing a Press conference at the BJP headquarters, BJP MP and national spokesperson Sambit Patra termed the Opposition parties’ notice for a “no-confidence motion” against Dhankar and INDIA Bloc ‘s decision to move Supreme Court on the EVM issue as “painful and disturbing”.