Will be violating my oath if I impart directive for presence of PM: Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankar

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday said that he would be “violating his oath” if he imparted any directive to the Prime Minister to be present in the House as it was the latter’s “prerogative”, like any other MP, to be in the House or not.
As Opposition members demanded the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the House to discuss issue relating to Manipur, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge referred to his notice for a discussion under Rule 267, which was not allowed by the Chairman, to underline that it had listed eight reasons why the discussion should be held and why the PM should come and make a statement on Manipur situation.
Dhankhar however disagreed with the demand. “I had in categorical terms indicated very firmly on a proper Constitutional premise and precedent that from this chair, I will be violating my oath if I impart a directive for the presence of the Prime Minister. That has never been done… I cannot make up for ignorance of the statute and the Constitution. If the Prime Minister wants to come, like everyone else, it is his prerogative. From this chair, a directive of this nature, which has never been issued, will not be issued,” he stated.
The Chairman chided Kharge for not utilising “wholesomely” the opportunity he had given the latter to make his point. On the LoP’s insistence on the presence of the PM in the House, Dhankhar told him he was ill-advised despite the legal luminaries “on his side”. “They will help you out, that under the Constitution and the prescription thereunder, I cannot give the direction, I shall not,” said the Chairman.
Opposition leaders later staged a walkout in protest.
Meanwhile, Dhankhar on Wednesday clarified that the time allocated for a short-duration discussion on Manipur under Rule 176 was not limited to two-and-a-half hours, as is the impression being given by a section of the media, but was without any time limit. The government has agreed to discuss the Manipur issue under Rule 176.