Thiruvananthapuram Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar on Saturday lashed out at Congress leader P Chidambaram for his comment that the three new penal laws were "drafted by part-time workers", calling them "unforgivable" and urging him to withdraw his remarks." derogatory, defamatory and "insulting" remark.
Dhankar said he was "beyond words" when in the morning he read Chidambaram's interview to a leading national daily in which he had said that "the new laws were drafted by part-time workers".
"Are we part-time workers in Parliament? This is an unforgivable insult to the wisdom of Parliament... I have no words strong enough to condemn such a narrative being floated and an MP being labeled as a part-time worker.
"I appeal to him (Chidambaram) from this platform to withdraw these derogatory, defamatory and highly insulting remarks about Members of Parliament (MPs). I hope he does so," the Vice President said while addressing the 12th convocation of the Indian Parliament . Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) here.
Dhankar further said that "when informed minds knowingly lead you astray, we must be on our guard."
"This morning, when I read a newspaper, an informed mind, who had been the Finance Minister of this country, a parliamentarian for a long time and currently a member of the Rajya Sabha, I was shocked," the vice president said.
Dhankar said he was proud of the fact that Parliament had done "a great thing" by "freeing us from the colonial legacy" and passing three laws that were of "epoch-making dimension".
The Vice President, who is also the Rajya Sabha Chairman, said all MPs were given an opportunity to contribute when the three bills (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Saksha Adhiniyam) were being debated in the House.
"It is with great regret that I share with you that this honorable gentleman, a distinguished Member of Parliament who has vast experience as a Finance Minister, did not use his lung power. He gave complete rest to his vocal cords while the debate proceeded," he said.
Dhankar said Chidambaram must be held responsible for "dereliction of duty on his part, an act of omission/commission, breach of duty, which can never be explained".
Dhankar said he was "beyond words" when in the morning he read Chidambaram's interview to a leading national daily in which he had said that "the new laws were drafted by part-time workers".
"Are we part-time workers in Parliament? This is an unforgivable insult to the wisdom of Parliament... I have no words strong enough to condemn such a narrative being floated and an MP being labeled as a part-time worker.
"I appeal to him (Chidambaram) from this platform to withdraw these derogatory, defamatory and highly insulting remarks about Members of Parliament (MPs). I hope he does so," the Vice President said while addressing the 12th convocation of the Indian Parliament . Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) here.
Dhankar further said that "when informed minds knowingly lead you astray, we must be on our guard."
"This morning, when I read a newspaper, an informed mind, who had been the Finance Minister of this country, a parliamentarian for a long time and currently a member of the Rajya Sabha, I was shocked," the vice president said.
Dhankar said he was proud of the fact that Parliament had done "a great thing" by "freeing us from the colonial legacy" and passing three laws that were of "epoch-making dimension".
The Vice President, who is also the Rajya Sabha Chairman, said all MPs were given an opportunity to contribute when the three bills (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Saksha Adhiniyam) were being debated in the House.
"It is with great regret that I share with you that this honorable gentleman, a distinguished Member of Parliament who has vast experience as a Finance Minister, did not use his lung power. He gave complete rest to his vocal cords while the debate proceeded," he said.
Dhankar said Chidambaram must be held responsible for "dereliction of duty on his part, an act of omission/commission, breach of duty, which can never be explained".
