The Rajya Sabha witnessed another heated exchange on Friday as actor-turned-politician Jaya Bachchan clashed with Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar over what she deemed an “unacceptable tone” in addressing her. The altercation, which stemmed from Dhankhar referring to her as ‘Jaya Amitabh Bachchan,’ quickly escalated into a broader political confrontation, with Opposition MPs rallying behind Bachchan and staging a walkout.
Bachchan, a Samajwadi Party MP, voiced her objection to Dhankhar’s manner of speaking, demanding an apology and stressing the importance of respect in the parliamentary discourse. “I am an artist. I understand body language and expressions. But your tone is not right. We are your colleagues, but your tone is unacceptable,” she asserted.
In response, Dhankhar, maintaining his stance on parliamentary decorum, emphasized that regardless of her celebrity status, Bachchan must adhere to the standards expected in the House. “Jaya ji, you have earned a great reputation. But every day, I don’t want to do schooling. You are talking about my tone? Enough of it. You may be anybody. You have to understand the decorum,” he retorted.
The confrontation took on a more significant political dimension as Dhankhar accused the Opposition of undermining parliamentary procedures, declaring, “There is a lack of decorum. You are walking away from your duty,” before the Opposition MPs, including Bachchan, walked out in protest.
The repeated clashes between Dhankhar and Bachchan, particularly over the use of her husband Amitabh Bachchan’s name, have highlighted the underlying tensions between political protocol and personal identity. Union Minister JP Nadda, also the Leader of the House of Rajya Sabha, later moved a censure motion against Jaya Bachchan for her remarks.
As these face-offs continue to unfold, they reflect the growing friction within the Rajya Sabha, where personal sensitivities and political strategies are increasingly coming into conflict, revealing deeper challenges in maintaining decorum and mutual respect in the nation’s highest legislative body.
