Rajya Sabha chairman should not always praise the govt: Congress

The Congress on Monday hit back at Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar over his remarks that people should leave their "political spectacle" behind while embarking on a foreign visit.

Saying that the Rajya Sabha chairman should be impartial and not always praise the government, the Congress advised Dhankar to give "this advice to those who started this practice", without naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking at a World Homeopathy Day function, Dhankhar said that as India lays the foundation for the centenary of its independence in 2047, every attempt that seeks to attack the country's dignity should be blunted.

He said people should leave their "political spectacle" behind while embarking on a foreign visit, in an apparent reference to a row over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks made during a recent visit to the United Kingdom.

Responding to Vice President Dhankhar's tweet, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter in Hindi, "First you give this advice to those who started this practice in 2015. Then give a sermon [to others]."

"Second thing, Mr Chairman should be impartial, and should not always praise the government," Ramesh added.

In his remarks on Monday, Dhankhar had said, "Have you ever noticed a foreign dignitary or foreign national on a visit to this great democracy decrying or criticising his nation? The answer is an obvious no. Why cannot we take pride in our scientists, health warriors and compliment our innovation?"

"Whenever we travel out of the country, we should leave our political spectacle behind. This will be beneficial for the country as well as the individual," he had added.