Kharge welcomes VP Radhakrishnan to Rajya Sabha, invokes connection with Congress: 'Your uncle has been a member'

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Monday welcomed Vice President CP Radhakrishnan as the chairman of the House and urged him not to show partisan behaviour during his tenure. Addressing the Upper House of the Parliamen

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Monday welcomed Vice President CP Radhakrishnan as the chairman of the House and urged him not to show partisan behaviour during his tenure.

Addressing the Upper House of the Parliament, Kharge invoked India's first Vice President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan to take a jibe at the BJP.

He said, "I rise today on my own behalf and on behalf of all opposition members to heartily congratulate you on assuming the office of Chairman of Rajya Sabha. Chairman holds the heavy responsibility of the smooth conduct of the proceedings of the Council of States. I consider it apt to quote Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan During his acceptance speech, he said, I belong to no party, that means I belong to every party in this House. It shall be my endeavour to hold the highest traditions of the Parliamentary democracy and act towards every party with fairness and impartiality. With ill will to none and goodwill to all. A democracy will turn into tyranny if it does not allow the Opposition groups to criticise fairly freely and frankly the policies ofthe government.' I am saying because some people say that you belong to their party," the Congress president added.

Drawing CP Radhakrishnan's connection with the Congress, Kharge added that his uncle CK Kuppuswamy was an MP from their party.

"Valuable observations made by Dr Radhakrishnan are still relevant. You not only assumed the same office as him, but also share the name. I hope you are of the same thought as him. Your uncle CK Kuppuswamy has been a member of Congress and elected to the Lok Sabha thrice. Congress staunchly stands by Constitutional values and time-honoured parliamentary procedures. Kindly be assured of our cooperation in the conduct of proceedings of the House and providing a just opportunity to each member of the House, whether they belong to the Opposition or the treasury benches," he said.

Recalling former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's sudden resignation, he said that the House did not get an opportunity to bid him a farewell.

"I am constrained to refer to your predecessor's sudden exit from the office of the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, which was unprecedented. The Chairman, as custodian of the House, belongs as much to the Opposition as to the government. I was disheartened that the House did not get an opportunity to bid him a farewell. I wish him a healthy life. We are confident that you will be impartial," he said.

Kharge's remarks regarding Dhankhar's resignation triggered opposition from the ruling MPs, and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju hit back by saying that Congress leaders had insulted the former Rajya Sabha chairman and sought his removal from the post.

A veteran BJP leader, Radhakrishnan, previously served as the Governor of Maharashtra and the Governor of Jharkhand from February 2023 to July 2024. He also held additional charge as the Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry between March and July 2024. He was elected twice to the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore and has served as Tamil Nadu BJP state president.