Expressing his anguish and pain over today's happenings in the Parliament, the Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar said he was feeling personally hurt by the targeting of his farmer and Jat background.

Taking on Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Shri P. Chidambaram, he said, “Imagine what must be going through my heart when your senior leader (Rahul Gandhi) video graphs a Member of Parliament (Kalyan Bannerjee) mocking the Institution of Chairman, as an individual take on me”.  He further asked Mr. Chidambaram, “a senior member of Parliament is videotaping another member... for what?”

Condemning the ravaging of the institutions of Chairman, Rajya Sabha by a political party that has ruled for so long, Shri Dhankhar said, “This is not just an insult to a farmer and a community, it is an insult to the office of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.”

Shri Dhankhar labeled this incident as “the occasion to see the lowest level”.  He further added, “Mr. Chidambram, your party posted a video which was withdrawn later on. That was a shame to me. You used the official twitter handle of the spokesperson (of the party) to demean me, insult me, insult my background as a farmer, insult my position as a Jat, insult my position as a Chairman.”

Following is the full statement of the Vice President given in the House –

“Hon'ble Members,

I have adjourned the House. You are not aware of the kind of response that is against this institution in the mind of the people and we had the occasion to see the lowest level.

Mr. Chidambaram is here. Mr. Chidambaram, you are a very senior member. Imagine what must be going through my heart when your senior leader video graphs a Member of Parliament mocking the Institution of Chairman, as an individual take on me.

Don't take on my background as a farmer; don't take on my background as a community member. The Institution of Chairman has been ravaged and that too by a political party that has gone for so long that a Member of Parliament, a senior one, video graphs the other member. For what?

I had suffered, I tell you. On Instagram, Mr. Chidambram, your party put a video which was withdrawn later on. That was a shame to me.

You used the official twitter handle of the spokesperson to demean me, insult me, insult my background as a farmer, insult my position as a Jat, insult my position as a Chairman.

Sir, these are too serious issues. Please go back to your seat.”

*****

MS