NEW DELHI: A heated exchange erupted in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday over Congress president and leader of opposition Mallikarjun Kharge’s “aapko theek se thokenge” remark, with BJP strongly protesting against the “expression” and demanded its expungement as well as an apology from him.
The confrontation was set off while the opposition was agitating for an apology from education minister Dharmendra Pradhan for his remark accusing DMK MPs of fudging facts over the language row and dubbing them “uncivilized” and “undemocratic”. Congress senior MP Digvijaya Singh was speaking when Kharge rose, leading deputy chairperson Harivansh to say that he had already been allowed to speak and that it was now his colleague’s turn.
Kharge was not amused. “This is a dictatorship. I request you (deputy chairman) with folded hands to allow me (to speak). Hum poori tayyari se aaye hain aur aapko kya kya thokna hai thik se thokenge, sarkar ko bhi thokenge (the opposition is prepared to corner the govt),” he said while looking at Harivansh. While the deputy chairperson reminded that he was not party to the partisan squabble, Leader of House, health minister J P Nadda came down heavily on the LOP condemning the choice of his language which he termed as derogatory to the Chair.
“The language used by the LOP, the aspersions on the chair, is condemnable. This is to be condemned by one and all. The words and language used for the chair is unpardonable, still he should apologise, and the word should be expunged,” he said.
Deputy chairman Harivansh too disapproved of Kharge’s remarks, emphasising the need for respectful discourse in the House. In response, Kharge apologised, clarifying that his comments were aimed at govt policies, not the Chair. “I apologise, I never spoke against you. I criticised govt’s policy, and I say sorry if my words seemed harsh to you,” he said.
