"Not School Children": Jaya Bachchan Alleges Mics Muted in Rajya Sabha

Jaya Bachchan condemned Jagdeep Dhankhar's use of what she described as "unparliamentary" language

Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan has demanded an apology from Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar after a contentious session in the upper house of Parliament. The incident arose from a heated exchange involving remarks made by BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari against Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge.

During a session where the Opposition MPs were vociferously demanding that Mr Tiwari's comments be expunged from the record, Ms Bachchan voiced her objections to Mr Dhankhar's conduct. She criticized the Chairman for his tone and his decision to switch off the microphone when Mallikarjun Kharge attempted to speak. Bachchan, clearly upset, asserted, "We are not school children and some of us are even senior citizens. I was upset with the tone… especially when the Leader of the Opposition (Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge) stood up to speak he (the Chair) switched the mic off. This is unacceptable."

Mr Bachchan further condemned Dhankhar's use of what she described as "unparliamentary" language, including terms like "nuisance" and "Buddhiheen" (which translates to "mindless"). "How can you do this? You have to allow the Leader of the Opposition to speak. If you are not going to allow that person to speak, if he is not going to be heard, then what are we doing here?" she argued. "The way things are being spoken in Parliament these days is unprecedented. I need an apology for saying 'I don't care'. He has to care… he is the Chair and he has to care."