'Sitharaman Studied In JNU, Certain That...': Mallikarjun Kharge's Dig At Finance Minister In Rajya Sabha
Mallikarjun Kharge's attack came after the Finance Minister blamed Nehru for curbing freedom of speech in 1951 through a Constitutional amendment.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge while speaking in Rajya Sabha during the debate on Constitution took a swipe at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Kharge said that while he studied in a municipality school, Sitharaman went to Jawaharlal Nehru University. Criticising her attack on former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru during a Constitution debate, Kharge said while the finance minister's English is good, her deeds are not good.
"I have to tell them that I also know how to read. I have studied in municipality school, she (Nirmala Sitharaman) has studied in Jawaharlal Nehru University, it is certain that her English will be good, her Hindi will be good, but the deeds are not good," Kharge said in Rajya Sabha on Monday.
VIDEO | "I have to tell them that I also know how to read. I have studied in municipality school, she (Nirmala Sitharaman) has studied in Jawaharlal Nehru University, it is certain that her English will be good, her Hindi will be good, but the deeds are not good," says Congress… pic.twitter.com/1PFqGVS9II
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 16, 2024
The Congress chief's attack came after the Finance Minister blamed Nehru for curbing freedom of speech in 1951 through a Constitutional amendment. Sitharaman made the statement while initiating the discussion on the 'Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India' in the Rajya Sabha.
Sitharaman said that the Congress party carried out major amendments to the Constitution to brazenly help the family and the dynasty. She also termed the Congress party as anti-women for not passing the Women's Reservation Bill under pressure of its coalition partners.
Kharge, while speaking in the upper house of the Parliament, touched on several issues, including Manipur, Bangladesh and Indira Gandhi.
Speaking on Indira Gandhi, the Congress leader said, "Our brave leader Indira Gandhi divided Pakistan into two parts and liberated Bangladesh... The pride of this country spread across the world. The chaos that is going on there (in Bangladesh), at least these (BJP) people should open their eyes and try to save the minorities there."
#WATCH | Constitution Debate | Rajya Sabha LoP and Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge says, “...Our brave leader Indira Gandhi divided Pakistan into two parts and liberated Bangladesh... The pride of this country spread across the world. The chaos that is going on… pic.twitter.com/iTyNGmlAJD
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2024
He also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of misleading the country by twisting facts about Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's letter on reservation to states and demanded an apology.
Kharge also accused the BJP leaders of indulging in 'bhakti' of Prime Minister Modi, asserting that it was leading the country towards dictatorship.
He also raised the issue of continued violence in Manipur and asked why PM Modi had not had the time to visit the state. The Congress chief said the prime minister had not had the time to assess the situation in Manipur for the past year and a half, since violence started in the eastern border state.
"Violence and unrest is continuing in Manipur but Modi ji did not get the time for one-and-a-half years to assess the situation there," he said.
"The prime minister travels everywhere within the country and outside but he has no time to visit Manipur, even when violence continues there," Kharge said, questioning Modi's silence on the issue.