Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi reacted with surprise and concern after Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar revealed that a wad of currency notes was found at his assigned seat during a routine anti-sabotage check. The revelation has ignited a political debate in the Upper House.
Singhvi, who arrived in the House at 12:57 pm and stayed only for three minutes until the adjournment, expressed bewilderment over the matter. “I have no knowledge of this incident. After briefly attending the session, I went to the canteen for 30 minutes before leaving,” Singhvi told reporters.
He also raised serious questions about security within the Parliament. “If items can be placed on any seat, it raises alarming concerns about the safety of the premises,” he said, calling for a thorough investigation to uncover any lapses by security agencies. Singhvi further added, “If this weren’t serious, it would be comical.”
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the premature naming of Singhvi by Chairman Dhankhar while the probe was still ongoing. “Such actions can tarnish reputations and should be avoided until the investigation concludes,” Kharge remarked.
In defense, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar clarified that he took immediate action to ensure an investigation and refrained from making any assumptions. “I verified whether the member was present and made sure that proper decorum was maintained,” Dhankhar explained.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju demanded further scrutiny of the incident, questioning how such a discovery could happen within the highly secure Parliament premises. “This needs to be examined thoroughly to ensure transparency,” Rijiju emphasized.
