Four wheels of the non-passenger coach next to the engine derailed at 3.32 pm as the train (number 19015) was leaving the station

“Never use a vegetable-cutting knife for bypass surgery” – Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar declared Tuesday, in his first comments since the opposition’s motion of no-confidence in his stewardship of the Upper House was junked for procedural irregularities.

“Just look at the notice against the Vice President… (as Vice President, Mr Dhankhar is the de facto Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha) … You’ll be shocked. (Former Prime Minister) Chandra Shekarji once said, ‘Never use a vegetable cutting-knife for bypass surgery’,” he said.

“That notice wasn’t even a vegetable-cutting knife… it was rusted. There was haste. When I read it, I was astonished,” Mr Dhankhar said at gathering of women journalists, “But what surprised me more was that none of you read it. If you had… you wouldn’t have slept for days!”

He also stressed the need for the right to expression, calling it “the definition of democracy”, and held forth on the subject, saying “If expression is qualified, compromised, or made subject to coercion, democratic values are flawed. It is antithetical to democratic evolution.”

“Before you use your vocal cords… allow your ears to entertain the other point of view. Without these two elements, democracy can neither be nurtured nor blossom,” Mr Dhankhar said.

READ | Opposition Moves No-Confidence Vote Against Jagdeep Dhankhar

The motion – filed in protest by the Congress after claiming Mr Dhankhar refused to allow its MPs to respond to attacks by those from the BJP – on the Sonia Gandhi-George Soros issue – was rejected on various grounds, including Mr Dhankhar’s name being misspelt and the lack of a 14-day notice period.

READ | Opposition’s No Trust Move Against Veep Jagdeep Dhankhar Rejected

Deputy Chairman Harivansh declared the motion had been tabled to create a ‘narrative’ against Mr Dhankhar. The only thing correct, he said, was that 60 opposition MPs had signed it.

Last week, in his first response to the notice Mr Dhankhar said he felt “personally pained” and slammed the Congress for running a “campaign”. “They have the Constitutional right to move a motion against me… but day-in and day-out, a campaign is going on against the Chairman,” he said.

READ | “World Watching Us”: J Dhankhar On Chaotic Parliament Session

The Congress, meanwhile, had defended the filing of the motion by labelling Mr Dhankhar the “biggest disruptor” of the Upper House. Party boss Mallikarjun Kharge said Mr Dhankhar’s actions had “hurt the dignity of India”. “For three years, he gave us neither time nor space to raise critical issues,” he said.

READ | “Compelled To… Chairman Biggest Disruptor In Rajya Sabha”: M Kharge

The Sonia Gandhi-George Soros issue dominated the closing week of Parliament, triggering many furious stand-offs between the government and the Congress, including fierce verbal spats between the bosses of the ruling party (JP Nadda) and the Opposition (Mr Kharge).

The BJP had alleged the Soros-founded OCCRP, the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, publishes reports “targeting” India, and that these are then used by the Congress to criticise the ruling party and government, and Indian business interests. The Congress, just as firmly, refuted the allegation. “We are patriots…” the party thundered in response.

The concerted attacks by the BJP came as the opposition tried to raise issues like the violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal over the survey of a mosque and the United States indictment against the Directors of Adani Green Energy – a renewable energy company owned by the Adani Group. It followed French media company Mediapart claiming “links between the OCCRP and the US government”.

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday finally announced the Champions Trophy 2025 schedule after much delay. The elite tournament, that is being hosted in a hybrid model, will start with a match between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi on February 19. The final will be played on March 9. India will play its first match of the Champions Trophy on February 20 in Dubai. India will play all its matches in Dubai.

The eight competing teams have been divided in two groups. Group A has Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh while Group B consists South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan, England. India will play Pakistan in Dubai on February 23.

The eight-team tournament will feature 15 matches, and will be played across Pakistan and Dubai, the ICC said. In Pakistan, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi will be the three venues to host tournament play. Each Pakistan venue will feature three group games apiece, with Lahore hosting the second semi-final.

Lahore will also host the final on March 9, unless India qualify, in which case it will be played in Dubai. Both the semi-finals and the final will have reserve days. The three group matches involving India, as well as the first semi-final, will be played in Dubai.

Groups:

Group A – Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh

Group B – South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan, England

Champions Trophy Schedule:

19 February, Pakistan v New Zealand, Karachi, Pakistan

20 February, Bangladesh v India, Dubai

21 February, Afghanistan v South Africa, Karachi, Pakistan

22 February, Australia v England, Lahore, Pakistan

23 February, Pakistan v India, Dubai

24 February, Bangladesh v New Zealand, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

25 February, Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

26 February, Afghanistan v England, Lahore, Pakistan

27 February, Pakistan v Bangladesh, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

28 February, Afghanistan v Australia, Lahore, Pakistan

1 March, South Africa v England, Karachi, Pakistan

2 March, New Zealand v India, Dubai

4 March, Semi-final 1, Dubai

5 March, Semi-final 2, Lahore, Pakistan

9 March, Final, Lahore (unless India qualify, when it will be played in Dubai)

10 March, Reserve day

*All matches will be day-night encounters