‘Shocked beyond words’: VP Dhankar slams Chidambaram for remarks on new criminal laws made by ‘part-time employee’

Deputy Speaker 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 employees”, calling it “inexcusable” and urging him to withdraw his “derogatory, defamatory and insulting” observation.

Dhankar said he was “shocked beyond words” when he read Chidambaram’s interview in a leading national daily in the morning in which he had said that “the new laws have been drafted by part-time employees”.

“Are we part-time MPs? This is an inexcusable insult to the wisdom of Parliament… I do not have strong enough words to condemn such a narrative and the labelling of an MP as a part-time MP.

“I request him (Chidambaram) to withdraw these derogatory, defamatory and highly insulting remarks against the MPs. I hope he does so,” the Vice President said while addressing the 12th convocation of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) in New Delhi.

Dhankar added that “when informed minds knowingly mislead you, we must be on our guard.”

“This morning when I read an article, an informed mind, who had been the Finance Minister of this country, a long-time parliamentarian and currently a member of the Rajya Sabha, astounded me,” the Vice President said.

Dhankar said he was proud that Parliament had done “a great thing” in “freeing us from the colonial legacy” and passing three laws that were of “historical dimension”.

The Deputy Speaker, who is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, said every MP had 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 a heavy heart that I inform you that this honourable member, a distinguished member who has great experience as Minister of Finance, did not use his lungs. He gave his vocal cords a complete rest during the debate,” he said.

Dhankar said Chidambaram must hold himself responsible for “failure of your duty, an act of omission/commission, a dereliction of duty, which can never be explained”.