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Staff Reporter / NEW DELHI
Rajya Sabha chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar today said that security staff had recovered a wad of Rs 500 notes from the seat allotted to Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi, leading to an uproar in the House with ruling and opposition benches trading allegations.
While Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said the chairman should not have named the member without an investigation being completed, Leader of the House J P Nadda accused the opposition of showing eagerness on “some issues” while wanting to cover up other issues.
The chairman said the wad has Rs 500 notes and there appear to be 100 notes.
An investigation has been ordered in accordance with practice. Dhankhar said that it was unclear whether the currency notes were real or fake.
Reacting over issue Abhishek Manu Singhvi said it was bizarre that politics were being raised on issues such as this and clarified that he carries only one Rs 500 note when he goes to the Rajya Sabha. “I reached inside the house at 12:57 pm yesterday, and the house rose at 1 pm; then I sat in the canteen till 1:30 pm with Sh Ayodhya Rami Reddy, and then I left the parl!” he said in a post on X.
As a ruckus broke out, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju asked, “Why should there be an objection to the name being taken? The chairman has pointed out the seat number and the member who occupies that. What is the problem with that?”
He said carrying bundles of notes in the House is not appropriate and agreed that there should be serious investigation into the matter.