Rajya Sabha witnesses uproar over Kharge’s unparliamentary expression

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha witnessed an uproar on Tuesday over an unparliamentary remark by Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, who apologised to the Chair while clarifying that it was meant for the Government that was “trying to create a regional divide” in the country.

As the Upper House took up a discussion on the working of the Education Ministry soon after the Question Hour, several Opposition members were on their feet demanding an apology from minister Dharmendra Pradhan for his remarks against the Tamil Nadu government.

Pradhan on Monday slammed the Tamil Nadu government for its stand on the three-language policy under the National Education Policy (NEP), accusing it of “ruining the future of the students” in the state for politics

On Tuesday, as Deputy Chairman Harivansh called Congress leader Digvijay Singh to initiate a discussion on the working of the education ministry, DMK MPs, who came dressed in black to oppose delimitation and NEP, were on their feet demanding an apology from Pradhan.

Amid the uproar, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge stood up to intervene.

Even though the Chair said the Congress president had already been given an opportunity to speak in the morning, Kharge said the education minister was not in the House at that time. “This is a dictatorship,” he said.

As the Chair said it was Singh’s turn to speak, Kharge said the Opposition was prepared to corner the Government.