'All Is Not Well': Dhankhar Warns 'Political System Under Great Strain' Due To Parliament Disruptions

Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday issued a press release expressing serious concerns about the current state of the Indian political system, highlighting that it is under "significant strain". Dhankhar criticised the trend of making the Chairman or Speaker a "convenient punching bag" and emphasised the vital role of Parliament as the "north star of democracy" and legislators as "lighthouses."

Dhankhar lamented the shift from wit, humour, and sarcasm in legislative debates to a more confrontational and adversarial atmosphere. He revealed that members often meet him in his chamber, confessing that they are commanded by their political parties to disrupt the house.

"Members meet me in my chamber and tell that they have a command from their political party to disrupt the House. I appeal to all political parties to seriously deliberate within and amongst themselves. I have to face serious situation in the house and in my chamber," he said.

Parliamentarians, Dhankhar noted, are talented and dedicated individuals, yet they frequently follow party commands to disrupt proceedings. He acknowledged the members' predicament, driven by their parties' instructions, and appealed to both the members and their parties to reconsider such directives.

"Now I realise the compulsion of members. The party has so commanded there is hardly any way you will listen to the chair but I appeal to you and through you your political party. How can a political party give command for disruption, for disturbance, for slogan shouting, for trooping into the well?" Dhankhar questioned.

He stressed on the importance of discipline, especially as India approaches its 75th year of democracy and marches towards 2047, the centenary of its independence.

"I therefore appeal to all political parties... we are in the 75th year of our democracy. We are on march to 2047 when the nation will celebrate centenary of its independence. We will be Viksit Bharat. There is a Marathon March that is going on for 2047. You all are most important stakeholders of that Marathon March. Therefore you will have to lead by example, you will have to lead by playing on front foot with straight bat and I am sure political parties should inculcate in their members a deep sense of discipline. This would reward those members whose performance has been excellent rather than reward those whose engaging in slogan shouting and trooping into the well," Dhankhar said.