New Delhi: Jairam Ramesh, one of the senior leaders of the Congress party, has insisted that Rajya Sabha Speaker Jagdeep Dhankar should remain neutral and should not be a cheerleader for the ruling party. He said this in response to Rajya Sabha Speaker Jagdeep Dhankar who had criticized Rahul Gandhi’s London speech.
Speaking at a book release function earlier, Rajya Sabha Speaker Jagdeep Dhankar had said, “A member of parliament is tarnishing India’s reputation on foreign soil.” Jairam Ramesh, general secretary of the party’s media wing, said that although the Rajya Sabha Speaker did not mention anyone by name, he mentioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
He said in a statement: “Some responsibilities require us to stand outside our likes and dislikes, party loyalties and ideologies we have been following. Chief among such official responsibilities is the additional charge of Speaker of the Rajya Sabha given by the political system to the President of the Vice-Republic of India.
So the Vice President’s speech about Rahul Gandhi is surprising. His speech that he should protect the constitution neutrally according to the constitutional law is confusing and surprising. Rahul Gandhi’s speech reflected the ground reality here. 12 opposition MPs have been served special infringement notices and their voices have been suppressed for allegedly inconveniencing the ruling party.
As the press and media are intimidated, they only play the voice of the government. No emergency has been declared here. However, the current government is not a government that respects and protects the constitutional system. In this situation, the Vice President’s current speech and previous speeches have only reinforced this situation.
The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha should be a mediator, a friend, a counselor and a guide for all. He should not be a cheerleader for the ruling government. History does not measure a leader by how loyal he was to his party. Instead, it is measured by the contribution made by that leader for the people,” said Jairam Ramesh.
