NEW DELHI : Another row erupted in parliament today as the ruling BJP demanded an apology from the Congress over controversial comments by its chief Mallikarjun Kharge. Mr Kharge made the comments yesterday while hitting back at the BJP for mocking Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra as “Bharat todo (Divide India)”.

At the Alwar rally, he had said the Congress won freedom for India, and its leaders, including Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, sacrificed their lives for the country. “Has even your dog at home died for the country? Still, they claim to be patriots and if we say something we are termed as deshdrohi (anti-nationals),” the Congress president had said.

The Congress president said the Grand Old Party “won independence for the country”, and its leaders like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives. “Has even your dog at home died for the country? Still, they (BJP) claim to be patriots and if we say something we are termed as deshdrohi (anti-nationals).”

Kharge also slammed the government for not allowing a discussion in parliament on the border clash with China, saying: “They (BJP government) talk like a lion outwardly, but if you see they act like a mouse.” Stung by the comments, the BJP raised strident calls for an apology as soon as the day began in parliament. “We condemn Mallikarjun Kharge’s comments, the way he used offensive language and tried to spread a lie. He should apologise for using offensive language in Alwar,” said Union Minister Piyush Goyal in Rajya Sabha.

As the demand triggered chaos in the House, Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said the comment was made outside parliament.“ Trust me, 135 crore people are laughing at us. They are thinking, wondering — what level have we fallen to.” “Something may have been said outside the House in a moment of emotion,” Mr Dhankhar, a lawyer by training, said in his discipline lesson to the Upper House of Parliament.

Mr Kharge, scoffing at the apology demand, doubled down on his comments and explained the provocation. “If I repeat myself here, it will be very difficult for these people (BJP), because those who apologised during the freedom struggle are asking those who fought for freedom to apologise. They said that the Congress is conducting a ‘Bharat Todo (Divide India) Yatra’. That’s when I said Congress has always worked on Bharat Jodo (uniting India). For this, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi gave their lives. What have you done? Who do you know has sacrificed for the country,” said the Congress chief. Pic: pti

(Bureau Report with Media Inputs).

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