Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday called the notice for his removal a campaign against the farming community, as leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said he was unable to respect the Chairman for lack of reciprocity.

The Upper House witnessed sloganeering and uproar as Dhankhar allowed four members from the Treasury benches to speak on the notice for his removal submitted by INDIA bloc parties this week.

During Zero Hour, BJP members accused the Congress of being anti-farmer and described Dhankhar as the son of a farmer who was being sought to be removed. Kharge countered saying he was the son of a farm labourer too and continued to attack the Chairman.

The notice has been filed under Article 67(b) which provides for moving a resolution of removal of the Chairman after 14 days of submitting a notice.

For the first time, Dhankhar spoke on the notice and said it would be considered after 14 days. He, however, did not clarify if the notice will stretch to the next session since the winter session will end on December 20. “I am a farmer. I will not show weakness. It's a campaign not against me, it's a campaign against the category to which I belong,” Dhankhar said.

“They (the Opposition) are entitled to bring a motion against me. This is their constitutional right, but they are deviating from the constitutional provisions,” he said.