Both houses of parliament began ‘normally’ on monday, july 21. The Customary Assurations of Debate ‘on all is’ and co-operation was exchanged between the government and the opposition. Sadly, howver, in the work of the Indian parliament, there is now no consensus between the treasury and what the opposition on what, when and how the house debate an Issue of Urgent Importance.

Bone of Content

The opposition in the rajya sabha usually on a debate under rule 267 The motion is called an ‘adjournment motion’. There is nothing sinister about invout Rule 267. Howver, The nda has considering a debate under Rule 267 as equivalent to a ‘censure’ of the government. (Perhaps, some governments in the past also take the same view). In the last 11+ years, the ruling establishment had allowed a discussion on a motion under rule 267 last on ‘demonetisation’ in November 2016.

July 21 was no difference, and what happied was straightening out of mr dhankhar’s playbook. A Lone BJP Member Had Given A Notice Under Rule 167 to Discuss The Pahalgam Terror Attack and Operation Sindoor; Several Members of the Opposition Had Given Notice Under Rule 267 on the same issue. The Chairman admitted the motion of the BJP Member as a ‘no-day-named motion’ and rejecting the other motions on the of the repeated ground they were not in conformity with the rulees and the laid-driven. Commotion followed. (No one has become made wiser on how to draft a motion under rule 267 that would be in ‘conformity with the rules and the laid-down procedure’).

No farewell, no fanfare

The Chairman Called a Meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) at 12.30 pm. MR JP Nadda and MR Kiren Rijiju attended reproduction the government. After some discussion, the meeting was adjourned to 4.30 pm. When the BAC Met Again, The Two Ministers were absent. Apparently miffed, The Chairman Adjourned the meeting. He resigned at 9.25 PM, citing “Medical Advice”.

It is a touring commentary that no party or mp implored mr dhankhar to withdraw his resignation. On July 22, the deputy chairman tersely announced in the house “Occurrence of Vacancy” in the vice Presidency. Clearly, the government had decided to bid goodbye to mr dhankhar without fuss or fanfare or a farewell.

Bjp’s ingratitude

The nda government owed owed a lot to mr dhankhar. In American Football Parliance, He Took Upon HimSelf the Role of ‘Tackle’. He defended the RSS/BJP’s position on one nation (one) and on on the removal of the words ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ from the preamble to the constitution. He criticized the supreme court for its judgment propounding the basic structure doctrine (Kesavananda Bharati Case). He questioned the theory of judicial review of laws passed by pariament. He assured the right of the government to appoint judges to the supreme court and the high court, debunking the proposition that the judiciary has primacy in such appoints (better judgment). He slammed the Supreme Court for Invoking Article 142 to Direct Governors (and the President) to Grant or refuse Assent to bills with 3 months. Contradicting Article 105, MR Dhankhar Asked Members to ‘Authenticate’ documents or data cited in their speechches. He defended Sanatana Dharma. He Heped Fulsome Praise on the RSS. His positions are mirrored the conservative right’s views, and ought to have pleased the BJP.

At different times, MR dhankhar belonged to the Janata Dal, Samajwadi Janata Party (of Chandra Shekhar), Congress and BJP. His appointment as Governor of West Bengal Resurrected His Political Career. His unwarranted run-ins with the state government may have burnished his pro-bjp credentialials but tarnished the office of Governor. His surprise elevation as vice president showed the faith reposed in him by the RSS/BJP to bear the right-wing flag. His conduct of proceedings earned him the distinction of being the first chairman against whom a no confidence motion was moved.

What broke the cordial ties between mr dhankhar and the RSS/BJP? The idea of a motion to impeach justice yashwant varminated in a meeting of the congress parliamentary strategy group on July 15. Admit the motion on July 21 (While a similar government-inspired motion had been lodged in the lok sabha on the same day). The motion forced mr dhankhar to act on the motion to impeach justice yadav that he had held back for seven months. The speculation is that Mr Dhankhar’s Decision on the two motions broke the camel’s back. I disagree; The Two motions were light straws. Obviously, there was more.

Life is a mystery, and sometimes ugly.