Those 'Crushing' Democracy Talk About Saving It: LoP Kharge Hits Back At BJP For Demanding Rahul Gandhi's Apology

An argument broke in the Rajya Sabha today after Leader of Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal in his speech targeted Rahul Gandhi for his recent remarks in London.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge during Budget Session

New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday cornered the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre over issues like Rahul Gandhi’s democracy remark in Parliament and the Adani row. Targeting the Centre, Kharge said those “crushing”, “destroying” democracy are talking of saving it. 

An argument broke in the Rajya Sabha today after Leader of Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal in his speech targeted Rahul Gandhi for his recent remarks in London. Goyal alleged, without taking names, that one Opposition leader tried to show the country in a poor light while travelling abroad. 

Responding to the statement, Kharge said Goyal presented the speech in his own way. 

“If we talk about democracy in any college, we are called anti-nationals. In Korea, Modi said, whatever happened in this country in 70 years — the industrialists who grew, the investments that happened — he condemned them. In Canada, he said that he is cleaning the mess that has been spread,” the Congress President added. 

“If the Prime Minister says such a thing abroad then it is right but if Rahul says it then it is wrong,” Kharge said. 

The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said that they demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee on Adani issue and claimed that he was not allowed to speak “even for two minutes” while Piyush Goyal was given 10 minutes to speak. 

“PM Modi is running the government like a 'dictator' and BJP is talking of saving democracy, country's pride,” Kharge said. 

The proceedings of Rajya Sabha which resumed this morning after a month-long recess was adjourned briefly following the ruckus by the Opposition which claimed that their microphones were turned off. 

Both the Houses of the Parliament have been adjourned till 2 pm today. 

The BJP alleged that Rahul Gandhi’s speech at London’s Cambridge University insulted India and demanded an apology. 

While addressing a lecture at Cambridge University, Rahul Gandhi said “Indian democracy is under pressure and under attack.”