All Opposition parties have written to Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu over improper seat offered to Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge at the swearing-in ceremony of President Droupadi Murmu on Monday.
The letter mentioned that the seat offered to Kharge was not commensurate with the position he held.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “Today at the swearing-in ceremony of the President, Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge was made to sit in a seat not commensurate with the position he holds.”
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“We wrote to express our shock and protest at this deliberate disrespect shown to a senior leader violating the warrant of precedence and not in accordance with protocol courtesies due to him,” he said.
Letter submitted to Hon’ble Chairman, Rajya Sabha by all Opposition Parties (including TMC) just now. pic.twitter.com/tapyVKFS1s
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 25, 2022
Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi said, “According to the protocol set by the Union Home Ministry, the seat is given in the third row.”
However, at the farewell function, he was offered a seat in the first row instead of the third.
“By doing this today, they have insulted this practice. They are creating unnecessary issues,” Joshi said.
“As far as the impasse in the Parliament is concerned, there will be a discussion on inflation, it has been said in both Houses that we are ready. The issue is strong, so we are ready to discuss it, but the Opposition wants to run away from the discussion,” he said.