People in constitutional posts doing politics using caste, region: Kharge

People holding constitutional posts have failed to fulfil their obligations, and are indulging in politics using "caste, region and occupation as their shield", Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said on Thursday-an apparent reference to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar amid an ongoing tussle between the Opposition and government over the suspension of 146 MPs during the winter session of Parliament.

- Saubhadra Chatterji

Speaking at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, Kharge also slammed the Union government for "arbitrarily passing important bills without discussion and debate" and alleged a conspiracy to "convert Parliament into a platform" for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Speaking at the CWC meeting, Kharge said: "The biggest challenge is that people holding constitutional posts, who are responsible for providing protection to the Opposition MPs, are themselves becoming a part of party politics and doing politics using caste, region and occupation as their shield. He has failed to fulfil his obligations under the Constitution. The whole country is watching it."

While the Congress chief did not name anyone, his remarks came two days after Vice President Dhankhar took strong exception of suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee allegedly mimicking him and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recording the act.