“Did not get support I should have…”: RS chairman Dhankar leaves House “for some time” amid Oppn protests

New Delhi [India], August 8 (ANI): Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar stopped presiding over the House for a brief while on Thursday and left the House saying that he did not “get the support he should have received.”

Rajya Sabha on Thursday witnessed dramatic events as the members of the opposition walked out after their demand to discuss the disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat from the Paris Olympics 2024 was not taken up for discussion in the House.

Dhankar expressed anguish at opposition members showing “disrespect” to the Chair. “For some time…unable to sit, (leaving) with heavy heart,” he said. On his leaving the House, the Chairman said that he was not “running away” from his oath.

“Iss pavitra sadan ko arajakta ka akhada banana” is against democratic values and there is an attempt to challenge the dignity of the House,” Dhankar said before leaving the chair. “I did not get the support I should have…,” he added.

Referring to Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification, he said the entire country is in pain and “To politicise it is to show disrespect” to athletes. He added that the Haryana government has extended all support and announced awards given to medal winners.

“You set aflame democratic traditions…insult to the chair,” the Rajya Sabha chairman said referring to the protests in the House.

Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha JP Nadda said that the way opposition members have behaved is condemnable.

He said there is freedom of expression but it should not cross boundaries as it is an attack on democracy. He said the entire country is with Vinesh Phogat.

“The behaviour of Congress, TMC towards the Chair is condemnable, there is a need for introspection. The way the Chairman has been hurt…I condemn it,” Nadda said.

INDIA Bloc MPs staged a protest at Parliament on Wednesday also seeking justice for wrestler Vinesh Phogat following her disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024 hours before the final.

In a big blow to India’s medal hopes in the wrestling arena, grappler Vinesh Phogat was earlier today disqualified from the 50 kg women’s wrestling event. Vinesh was scheduled to take on United States’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the Gold Medal match. A statement issued by the Indian Olympic contingent said that Phogat had tipped the scales above the 50 kg mark and was disqualified.

Vinesh Phogat had entered the Gold Medal bout after beating Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 in the semi-finals on Tuesday night.