Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday accused the Opposition of shedding “crocodile tears” for farmers, alleging their demand to discuss farmers’ issues in Parliament was a political move. His remarks led to a heated exchange and a subsequent walkout by several Opposition members.
The controversy erupted when Dhankhar rejected notices filed under Rule 267, seeking discussions on a range of issues, including the ongoing farmer protests, the cyclone in Tamil Nadu, allegations against the Adani Group, and violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal. He stated that none of the notices pertained directly to farmers’ concerns since the start of the Winter Session.
Addressing the House, Dhankhar said, “The interest of the farmers would not be served by crocodile tears. Farmers are the last priority [for the Opposition].” He accused the Opposition of politicizing the issue and creating unnecessary drama in Parliament.
In response, members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress staged protests near the Well of the House, raising slogans. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari took a sharp jab at the government, questioning the lack of action on minimum support price (MSP) promises and holding it accountable for the deaths of farmers during the protests against the now-repealed farm laws. “The government has failed to deliver on its MSP promises. The farmers deserve answers,” he said.
The uproar follows Dhankhar’s comments earlier this week, where he reportedly asked Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan if any specific commitments had been made to farmers during the protests. This line of questioning has fueled Opposition demands for clarity on the government’s stance on MSP and other unresolved issues.
As the Winter Session progresses, the deadlock between the government and the Opposition over farmers’ concerns is expected to remain a flashpoint in parliamentary proceedings.
