Congress President Kharge Loses His Calm in Rajya Sabha Over BJP MP’s Interruption

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge lost his temper in the Rajya Sabha when BJP MP Neeraj Shekhar, the son of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, when he cut him during his speech. The senior Congress leader was addressing the Upper House during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, focusing on the depreciation of the rupee against the US dollar.

“Tera baap ka bhi main aisa sathi tha. Tu kya baat karta hai? Tujhko lekar ghuma. Chup, chup, chup baith,” meaning, "I was your father’s companion. What are you talking about? I took you around. Keep quiet and sit,” said a visibly livid Kharge.

The outburst in the Rajya Sabha led to an uproar, prompting Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to intervene and urge both sides to maintain decorum. He specifically addressed Kharge's remarks, highlighting the respect owed to former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar and requested that Kharge withdraw his comments. Kharge defended his outburst by explaining his close association with Chandra Shekhar, recalling their time together as political companions and their shared experience of being arrested.

The Chairman asked Kharge to withdraw his remark, saying, “You are saying ‘apke baap’... can we certify this expression? We have to have respect towards Chandra Shekharji. Please withdraw.” Kharge, however, defended his statement, clarifying that insulting others was not in his nature, but he criticized the BJP for its derogatory comments about former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He recounted the insults Singh faced, including accusations that he wore a raincoat while bathing or couldn’t govern effectively, stating, “They made such insulting remarks, but he endured them and kept quiet in the country's interest.” Kharge further pointed out that while the BJP insulted others, the Congress had become accustomed to enduring such attacks.

Neeraj Shekhar, who was once a member of the Samajwadi Party, joined the BJP in 2019. His father, Chandra Shekhar, served as Prime Minister for a brief term from October 1990 to June 1991 and is remembered as one of the country’s most respected socialist leaders.​