Kharge apologises after showdown in Rajya Sabha over 'thokenge' remark: 'Unpardonable language'

Rajya Sabha on Tuesday witnessed chaotic scenes after leader of opposition and Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge used unparliamentry remarks during a heated debate on the functioning of the Education Ministry.

Kharge, who stood up to speak amid uproar over Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan's remarks against Tamil Nadu government, used the word "thokenge" to convey that the opposition will hit back at the government.

When Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh said the Congress president had already been given an opportunity to speak in the morning, Kharge said the education minister was not in the House at that time. "This is a dictatorship," he said.

Kharge went on to say: "Hum poori tayyari se aaye hain aur aapko kya kya thokna hai thik se thokenge, sarkar ko bhi thokenge(We have come fully prepared. The opposition will corner the government)".

Leader of the House JP Nadda interjected and expressed anger over the language used by Kharge.

"The language used by the Leader of Opposition, the aspersions on the chair, is condemnable... This is to be condemned by one and all. The words and language used for the Chair is unpardonable, still he should apologise and the word should be expunged," he said.

Later, Kharge clarified that he did not use the remarks against the Chair and apologised to the Deputy Chairman.

“I apologise to you [Deputy Chairman], I have not used these words for you. I have said that 'hum sarkar ki policies ko thokenge'. I apologise to you and not to the government,” Kharge said.

Nadda said it is good that Kharge apologised to the Chair, and appreciated his gesture, adding the remarks are still condemnable if they were meant for the government.

Stepping up his attack on Pradhan, Kharge said: "You are hurting the self-respect of a part of this country and people, and calling them uncultured and uncivilised... The minister should be asked to resign. They are talking about dividing and breaking the country."

On Monday, education minister Pradhan lambasted the Tamil Nadu government for its stand on three-language policy under the NEP, accusing it of "ruining the future of the students" in the state for politics. His remarks drew a sharp retort from chief minister M K Stalin, who asked him to "control his tongue".

(With inputs from agencies)