A massive row erupted in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday as ruling and opposition members were engaged in a war of words over Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s ‘dog remarks’. Kharge refused the ruling members’ demand for an apology and insisted that the remarks were made outside Parliament and should not be discussed in the House.
Addressing a rally in Rajasthan’s Alwar during the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra, Kharge trained his guns at the BJP and said, “We (Congress) gave freedom to the country and Indira and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives for the unity of the country. Our party leaders gave their lives. What did you (BJP) do? Did any of your dogs die for the country? Has any family member made any sacrifice? No!” (sic).
The Congress chief also slammed the government over the recent India-China skirmish along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector and alleged the Centre has been concealing facts.
BJP DEMANDS APOLOGY
Furious over the remarks and calling it an ‘insult’, the treasury bench members sought an apology from Kharge. Union Minister Piyush Goyal said, “Unless he apologies, he has no right to be here.” (sic)
Yesterday, LoP Mallikarjun Kharge gave an indecent speech in Alwar. The language used is unfortunate. I condemn the manner in which he used indecent language, said baseless things and attempted to present lies before the nation. I demand an apology from him,” the minister said.
He (Mallikarjun Kharge) should apologise to the BJP, the Parliament and the people of this country who formed the BJP govt with an absolute majority. He (Kharge) gave us a glimpse of his mindset and jealousy: Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, Piyush Goyal pic.twitter.com/VBiQkcmzZq
— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2022
PARLIAMENT PROCEEDINGS DISRUPTED
As the debate led to chaos and evoked unruly scenes in the House, the Chairman asked the members not to set a bad example.
“We are setting a very bad example. ..This kind of conduct gives a bad name…Even the observations of the chair that are wholesome are indigestible. What a painful scenario we are having. Trust me, 135 crore people are laughing at us. They are concerned and thinking that we cannot listen to each other,” the chairman said.
