"Don't bring Varna system," Dhankhar, Kharge engage in war of word in RS
New Delhi, Jul 2: The Rajya Sabha witnessed a war of words on Tuesday when Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar sarcastically said Jairam Ramesh should take the seat of Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, in an effort to discipline the Congress MP.
Kharge, who is also the president of the Congress, retorted by saying the chairman was trying to bring in the "Varna" (caste) system.
The acrimony started when Dhankhar asked Pramod Tiwari of the Congress not to state unverified facts. To this, Ramesh said it would be authenticated.
"The senior leadership (Kharge) is here. I think you (Ramesh) should replace (Kharge).... You are so intelligent, so gifted, so talented, you should immediately come and take the seat in place of Mr Kharge because, by and large, you are doing his job," the chairman said.
At this point, Kharge retorted by saying "do not bring in the Varna system...that is why you are calling Ramesh very intelligent ... and I am dull".
An agitated Dhankhar accused Kharge of "twisting" his remark and said he never meant it.
"Never in the history of parliamentary democracy and Rajya Sabha proceedings there has been such a disregard of the chair," he said.
Kharge added that whatever he is today is because of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and the people of the country.
Later, Tiwari continued his speech on the Motion of Thanks to the president for her address to a joint sitting of Parliament.
VP Dhankar: Jairam Ramesh is so intelligent, talented, and gifted that you should immediately take the place of Kharge!
— The White-Dark Knight (@syndrome_knight) July 2, 2024
*Kharge Sahab refutes back*:
Don't bring that varnashram!
I think you still have that Varna Caste System in your mind.
🔥🔥🔥🤣 Brutally Slayed! pic.twitter.com/6Fwse0wqLP
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Andhra HC directs govt not to proceed with demolishing YSRCP offices unilaterally
Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh), Jul 4: In a major relief to YSR Congress Party, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday directed the state government to exercise its power to demolish the opposition party's offices only if their construction is against public interest and cause public nuisance, among other reasons.
The court issued these directions to the state government after hearing a bunch of petitions filed by the opposition party against government notices to the YSRCP on its party offices located at some places in the state.
The court noted that if the deviations in the construction of YSRCP district offices were minor, minimal or trivial and do not affect the public at large, then the government authorities shall not resort to their demolition.
"The power of demolition should not be resorted to unless the overwhelming public interest is involved," the court said.
It directed the state government authorities to follow the due procedure in accordance with law and also enabled the opposition party to submit its documents, explanations and other proof within a fortnight pertaining to its district offices construction.
The court directed the state government to accord due opportunity of hearing to YSRCP and also observed that no coercive steps should be taken while probing the constructions.
Allowing the opposition party to avail and exhaust all the remedies available under law, it also directed the authorities to act fairly and objectively in consonance with the provisions of law.
A major controversy erupted in the southern state recently in the wake of YSRCP's under-construction central party office demolition at Tadepalli, and subsequent notices to its district party offices which are under various stages of construction.
The TDP-led government also comprising BJP and Janasena has alleged that 18 such offices were 'totally unauthorised buildings.'
Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh pegged the value of these offices at Rs 2,000 crore.
