New Delhi: Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar strongly rebuked Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday, alleging that Kharge had insulted former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, who was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. Dhankhar asserted that he "will not tolerate insult to Chaudhary Charan Singh."
The confrontation occurred after Kharge questioned the Speaker's decision to permit Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary to speak in the House. Dhankhar accused Kharge of virtually insulting Chaudhary Charan Singh and his legacy, stating, "You had no time for Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh. You are hurting every farmer in the country by creating such an environment inside the House on the issue of Chaudhary Charan Singh."
As Singh began expressing gratitude to the government for the honor in the Rajya Sabha, Congress members objected, and Kharge sought clarification on the rule under which Jayant Singh was allowed to speak. Amidst the ensuing uproar, Union Minister Parshottam Rupala expressed astonishment at the Congress's opposition to conferring the Bharat Ratna on Chaudhary Charan Singh.
Jayant Singh expressed dismay at the "disrespect" shown to Charan Singh in the House by the Congress, emphasizing that honoring such a figure should transcend political alliances and electoral outcomes.
Leader of the House and Union Minister Piyush Goyal demanded an apology from Leader of the Opposition Kharge for his remarks, both to the Chair and to the nation.
Throughout the proceedings, the importance of Charan Singh's contributions to Indian politics, particularly his advocacy for farmers and rural development, was reiterated.
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