NEW DELHI: On Friday, Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament Jaya Bachchan called for an apology from Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar following a contentious exchange regarding remarks made by BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari about Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge.
Bachchan stated, “I took issue with the tone employed by the Chair. We are not children; many of us are senior citizens. I found the tone particularly upsetting, especially when the Leader of the Opposition rose to speak and the microphone was turned off.”
How can such actions be justified? The Leader of the Opposition must be permitted to express his views… It is unacceptable to use unparliamentary language repeatedly, which I prefer not to articulate in this forum. Terms like nuisance and ‘Buddhiheen’ are used,” the Samajwadi Party MP remarked.
She continued, stating, “He mentioned that you might be a celebrity, but that is of no concern to me. I am not requesting his attention. What I am asserting is that I am a Member of Parliament. This is my fifth term, and I am confident in my statements.”
“The manner in which discussions are conducted in Parliament currently is unprecedented. I demand an apology,” she further expressed.
Bacchan was supported by several other female Members of Parliament, including Sonia Gandhi, who stood in solidarity with her allegations against the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
Priyanka Chaturvedi, a Member of Parliament from Shiv Sena (UBT), stated, “She (Jaya Bachchan, MP from the Samajwadi Party) possesses significantly more experience than the Vice President himself. It is unacceptable for him to show disrespect towards a fellow Member of Parliament.”
TMC MP Dola Sen remarked, “She (Jaya Bachchan, SP MP) is not present here as a celebrity; she is here in her capacity as an elected Member of Parliament.”
Earlier today, during a session where Opposition Rajya Sabha MPs called for the expunging of remarks made by BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari regarding the Leader of the Opposition, Jaya Bachchan commented on the tone of the statements made by Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. The Chairman expressed strong disapproval of Jaya Bachchan’s comments, asserting that he does not require instruction and operates independently without a predetermined script.
In response, Opposition members staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha. As they exited, the Chairman referenced the anniversary of the Quit India movement, indicating that the Opposition was abandoning their parliamentary responsibilities. Leader of the House JP Nadda condemned the Opposition’s conduct, describing it as inappropriate, and introduced a “ninda prastav” to address their behavior in the House.
On August 2, Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan’s introduction of herself as ‘Jaya Amitabh Bachchan’ prompted a jovial response from Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. This incident took place during a session after Bachchan had previously voiced her discomfort with being referred to by her husband’s name.
The unexpected turn of events caused Dhankhar to laugh heartily, a sentiment shared by several other Members of Parliament, including Congress’ Jairam Ramesh and Aam Aadmi Party’s Raghav Chadha.
This amusing moment led to a brief yet entertaining exchange between Bachchan and Dhankhar. Bachchan quipped, “Did you manage to take a lunch break today? No? That explains why you keep mentioning Jairam Ji’s name. It seems you cannot digest your meal without invoking him.” Dhankhar replied humorously, stating, “On a light-hearted note, I did not take a lunch break today, but I did have lunch with Jairam ji,” which further delighted the assembly. He added, “I must also mention that this may be the first occasion where I am a fan of both you and Amitabh Ji.”
This playful interaction follows Bachchan’s earlier objection to being referred to as “Jaya Amitabh Bachchan” by Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh.
On July 29, Bachchan firmly asserted, “Sir, simply Jaya Bachchan would have been sufficient,” emphasizing her concern regarding the tendency to identify women solely by their husbands’ names. During that session, she expressed her dissatisfaction, stating, “It is troubling that women are recognized by their husbands’ names as if they lack their own identity or accomplishments.”
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