- By Nidhi Giri
- Wed, 05 Feb 2025 01:49 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge snapped at Neeraj Shekhar, BJP MP and former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar's son after the latter interrupted him during a speech in Rajya Sabha. Kharge pointed out to Shekhar that he was a contemporary of his father and had seen him as a child. Losing his cool, Kharge asked the BJP MP to sit down.
The Congress leader made the remark on Monday during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address. He was speaking on the fall of the rupee against the US dollar when Shekhar interrupted him.
"Tera baap ka bhi main aisa sathi tha. Tu kya baat karta hai? Tujhko lekar ghuma. Chup, chup, chup baith (I was your father's companion. What are you talking about? I took you around. Shut up and sit," Kharge said.
Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar was seen asking both sides to keep the calm following an uproar. "Chandra Shekharji happens to be one of the tallest leaders this country has ever seen. The respect for Chandra Shekharji in the country is immeasurable," he said, requesting Kharge to withdraw his reference to the former Prime Minister.
Both Kharge and Shekhar said they are cordial to each other whenever they meet.
Kharge said he and the late Chandra Shekhar were arrested together. "That's why I said your father was my companion. And you got up as if...," he told Shekhar.
The Chairman said, "You are saying 'apke baap', can we certify this expression? You are telling another honourable Member 'apke baap', we have to have respect towards Chandra Shekharji. Please withdraw."
Accusing the BJP of insulting former Prime Minister, the late Manmohan Singh, Kharge said, "Someone said he wears a raincoat while bathing, some said he does not talk, some said he cannot run the government. They made such insulting remarks, but he endured them and kept quiet in the country's interest. He was called Mauni Baba. This habit of insulting people is theirs, we are the ones who tolerate insult."