Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar Faces Uproar Over Vinesh Phogat’s Disqualification
New Delhi, India – On Thursday, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar convened a meeting with floor leaders from both Houses of Parliament. This meeting followed an uproar from opposition members who were protesting the disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat from the Paris Olympics 2024.
Dhankar described the situation in the House as “unprecedented” and “indigestible.” He emphasized the need for tough decisions, stating, “Sublimity has been misunderstood as fragility, persuasion has been misunderstood as weakness.”
Earlier, Dhankar temporarily stopped presiding over the House, expressing his disappointment at the lack of support. Opposition members had walked out after their demand to discuss Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification was not addressed.
Dhankar criticized the opposition’s behavior, calling it an attack on Indian democracy and the dignity of the Speaker’s post. He stated, “This challenge is not being given to me but to the post of the Chairman.”
Dhankar expressed his anguish over the disrespect shown to the Chair, saying he left the House with a heavy heart but was not “running away” from his responsibilities. He accused the opposition of setting aflame democratic traditions and insulting the Chair.
On Wednesday, MPs from the INDIA Bloc staged a protest in Parliament, seeking justice for Vinesh Phogat. Congress MP Randeep Surjewala questioned the government’s silence and urged the Indian Olympic Association to discuss the matter with the International Olympic Association. Surjewala highlighted that Vinesh’s weight was less than 50 kg when she won three matches, questioning how her weight could affect her previous wins.
Surjewala added, “Not only to Vinesh, this medal belongs to the whole country and BJP needs to understand that.”
Doubts Revealed
Rajya Sabha -: Rajya Sabha is one of the two houses of the Parliament of India. It is also called the Council of States.
Chairman -: The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is the person who presides over its meetings. Currently, this position is held by the Vice President of India.
Jagdeep Dhankar -: Jagdeep Dhankar is the current Vice President of India and, therefore, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
uproar -: Uproar means a loud and angry protest or reaction from people.
Vinesh Phogat -: Vinesh Phogat is a famous Indian wrestler who has won many medals in international competitions.
disqualification -: Disqualification means being stopped from participating in a competition because of breaking rules or other reasons.
Paris Olympics 2024 -: The Paris Olympics 2024 is an upcoming international sports event where athletes from around the world will compete in various sports.
opposition members -: Opposition members are politicians who are not part of the ruling party and often question or challenge the government’s actions.
floor leaders -: Floor leaders are the main leaders of political parties in the Parliament who manage and organize their party’s activities.
attack on democracy -: An attack on democracy means actions that harm or undermine the democratic system, where people have the right to speak and participate in government.
MPs -: MPs are Members of Parliament, the people who are elected to represent the citizens in the Parliament.
INDIA Bloc -: The INDIA Bloc is a group of opposition parties in India that have come together to challenge the ruling party.
Congress MP Randeep Surjewala -: Randeep Surjewala is a member of the Indian National Congress party and serves as a Member of Parliament.
Indian Olympic Association -: The Indian Olympic Association is the organization responsible for selecting and managing India’s teams for the Olympic Games.
International Olympic Association -: The International Olympic Association, also known as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is the organization that oversees the Olympic Games worldwide.
