NEW DELHI: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge alleged on Thursday that Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar "always suppresses" the opposition's freedom of expression by "persistent heckling".
Kharge, who is the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, claimed Dhankar resorted to "unwarranted insistence on authentication".
He further alleged that Dhankar repeatedly "criticised opposition leaders outside House, often echoing ruling party's (BJP) arguments".
"Muzzling of opposition's 'right to speak', 'expression of opinion' in Rajya Sabha has become norm," Kharge was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI.
The Congress leader claimed the Rajya Sabha Chairman "routinely directs arbitrary, mala fide expunging of critical portions of speeches by opposition members including the leader of opposition".
Rajya Sabha witnessed a huge ruckus on Thursday as the treasury and opposition benches traded charges over no-trust notice against Dhankhar, with BJP linking Congress to US billionaire investor George Soros.
"What is the relationship between Sonia Gandhi and Soros? The country wants to know," BJP chief JP Nadda asked in Parliament, rattling the Congress MPs, who accused Dhankar of "encouraging reckless allegations" rather than containing them.
"House is not in order. They are making reckless allegations. You are listening and encouraging..." Kharge told the Chair.
"Democracy runs on two wheels - one is the opposition party, other is the ruling party, and you are the umpire. But if you take one-sided decisions, it is a setback for the country and democracy..." Kharge said.
Additionally, Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose submitted a privilege motion notice against parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, accusing him of making derogatory remarks against opposition leaders in the Upper House.
The move comes after Rijiju, addressing opposition members on Wednesday said, "If you cannot respect the chair, you have no right to be a member of this House."
Rijiju's controversial comments came amid criticism from opposition leaders targeting Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.