Sparks fly in Rajya Sabha as Goyal seeks Rahul’s apology over UK remarks, Kharge flags Modi barbs

Raising the issue in the Upper House, Leader of the House Piyush Goyal charged that a senior Opposition leader has attacked India’s democracy in a shameless manner in a foreign country. Without taking Rahul’s name, Goyal alleged that the Opposition leader has insulted the Indian Army, Indian Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker, Election Commission, judiciary and media on foreign soil.

“The entire country saw how an Opposition leader hurt the sentiments of Indians on foreign soil. He should apologise to the country and every Indian. He should apologise to the Army. He should come to the House and apologise to the Army, media and judiciary for his remarks on democracy,” Goyal said amid protests from the Congress benches.

Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar intervened and referred to the Opposition criticism that its members were not being allowed to express its views in the House. During a meeting Dhankhar held with the floor leaders Sunday, some of the Opposition leaders complained that the Chairman repeatedly interrupted and prevented them from speaking in the House.

Dhankhar said apart from rejecting notices under rule 267 seeking suspension of all business to take up discussions, he had never stopped any member from speaking in the House under relevant rules.

Goyal said the Opposition leader should apologise for alleging that the media, judiciary, security agencies and the EC are being controlled by someone.

“He (Rahul) should understand what democracy is. Democracy had come under threat when the fundamental rights were suspended during the Emergency. Who did it? His party did it. Democracy comes under threat when the voice of the media is muzzled, freedom of speech is stifled…his party did it,” Goyal charged.

Referring to Rahul’s bid to tear up an ordinance brought by the then Manmohan Singh-led UPA government to negate a Supreme Court order on disqualifying convicted MPs and MLAs in 2013, Goyal said, “Democracy comes under threat when the Prime Minister’s existence itself is questioned.”

He also referred to the dismissal of many state governments through the use of Article 356 by the Congress governments at the Centre over the decades. “That is when democracy comes under threat,” he said.

Hitting back, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said he condemns the Leader of the House’s remarks against Rahul, who is not a member of the Rajya Sabha, and the Congress party.

Referring to Goyal’s remarks on democracy, Kharge said, “The world knows what is happening in India.” He charged that democracy in India was not functioning as per the Constitution and democratic ethos.

There was sloganeering from both the Treasury and Opposition benches, with the former insisting that Rahul apologise for his remarks about India made during his UK trip and the latter raising the Adani affair.

Taking exception to Goyal’s charges, Kharge cited two previous rulings to say that no member of the House can level charges on a member of the other House. He asked the Chairman to expunge Goyal’s remarks, to which the latter replied that he had not named the Congress leader.

With protests from both sides continuing, Dhankhar said he would give his ruling on Tuesday and adjourned the proceedings of the House till then.

“Today the Leader of the House in the RS, Piyush Goyal was allowed to speak for quite some time on remarks made by an MP of the Lok Sabha. This is against all rules. The Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge was then not allowed to be heard,” Congress chief whip Jairam Ramesh later said.

Addressing a press conference later with several Opposition leaders, Kharge said the Chairman always talked about rules but he was unable to fathom under what rule can a member level allegation against a member of the other House. The Congress leader said Goyal used “objectionable” language, charging that he tried to insult democracy.

“They (BJP) are throttling democracy. There is no place for the Constitution and democracy in Modi and BJP raj. They are misusing every autonomous body and agency…No notice, rule of law… He is running the country like a dictator. And they are talking about democracy, patriotism and the prestige of the country,” Kharge alleged.

He then referred to some of the statements made by PM Modi on foreign soil.

“In China, Modi had said that ‘earlier you felt ashamed of being born in India, but now you feel proud to represent the country…’ Who said this? The Prime Minister had said it,” Kharge said.

He said that “In South Korea, the PM had said that earlier people would lament, they would ask what sin they committed to have been born in India… First see the mirror of truth before lecturing the Congress party.”