‘Vegetable Knife For Bypass Surgery’: VP Dhankhar Reacts To Opposition’s No-Trust Motion – News18

Last Updated:December 24, 2024, 19:08 IST

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar also asserted that the notice for his removal from the post was actually a “rusted” tool.

Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday stated that “one should not use a vegetable-cutting knife for bypass surgery” in his first comments since the opposition’s motion of no-confidence against him. The motion was rejected for procedural irregularities.

Dhankhar also asserted that the notice for his removal from the post was actually a “rusted” tool.

“You’ll be shocked. Chandra Shekhar ji once said, ‘Never use a vegetable-cutting knife for bypass surgery’. The notice wasn’t even a vegetable-cutting knife; it was rusted. There was haste,” Dhankhar said.

“When I read it, I was astonished. But what surprised me more was that none of you read it. If you had, you wouldn’t have been able to sleep for days,” the Vice President was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Dhankhar said any constitutional position has to be vindicated by the commitment to sublimity, sterling qualities and constitutionalism.

“Before you use your vocal cords… allow your ears to entertain the other point of view. Without these two elements, democracy can neither be nurtured nor blossom,” Dhankhar said.

Dhankhar’s statements came after a no-confidence motion was filed against him in protest by the Congress after claiming that the Rajya Sabha Chairperson refused to allow its MPs to respond to attacks by those from the BJP.

The notice was rejected by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chair Harivansh, declaring that the motion had been tabled to create a ‘narrative’ against Dhankhar.

Responding to the notice, Dhankhar last week said that he was “personally pained” by the opposition’s move and slammed the Congress for running a “campaign”.

“They have the Constitutional right to move a motion against me… but day-in and day-out, a campaign is going on against the Chairman,” he said.