Rajya Sabha Chairman slams AAP MP for ‘offensive’ hand gesture

New Delhi, Dec 17: Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar on Friday reprimanded Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha for making an ‘offensive’ hand gesture during the debate on the Jammu and Kashmir bills.

Chadha, who is the leader of the AAP in the Upper House, was seen gesturing with his thumb and index finger, which is considered as a sexist insult against men by some anti-feminist groups in South Korea.

Dhankar, who is also the Vice President of India, objected to Chadha’s gesture and asked him to use his mouth instead of his hands to express his views.

“If you want to say something, use your mouth. Do not gesture with your hands. Now is the time for you to learn many things. It seems you will also start dancing soon. Sit quietly on your seat. You have already been punished by this House,” Dhankar said.

Chadha, who was suspended from the House for 115 days for allegedly presenting misleading facts to the media and including the names of the members in the proposed select committee without their consent, claimed that he was misunderstood by the Chair and that his gesture was not intended to offend anyone.

However, Dhankar did not accept his explanation and said that his gesture was an affront to the authority of the Chair and the dignity of the House.

He also said that Chadha’s gesture was against the Constitution and the judgement of the Supreme Court, which has upheld the freedom of speech and expression as a fundamental right, but with reasonable restrictions.

He said that Chadha’s gesture was not a part of the freedom of speech and expression, but a manifestation of hatred and intolerance.

He also asked the other members of the House to condemn Chadha’s gesture and maintain the decorum and discipline of the House.

Chadha’s gesture sparked a heated exchange of words between the treasury and the opposition benches, with some members supporting Chadha and some demanding an apology from him.

The debate on the Jammu and Kashmir bills, which seek to amend the reservation and reorganisation laws of the Union Territory, was disrupted due to the ruckus caused by Chadha’s gesture.

The bills were later passed by the House with a voice vote.