Criticizing the Narendra Modi government’s stance on China, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, “Outside talks like a lion. But actually behaves like a mouse.” He also raised the question whether the house dog of any BJP leader has died for the freedom movement or the unity of the country. 2 houses of the parliament were uproarious around Kharge’s comment. Even though BJP claimed that Kharge should apologize, Kharge said that he will not apologize. On the other hand, in the state assembly, BJP-RSS had no role in freedom movement.
Refusal of Modi government
The Modi government refused to agree to the opposition’s constant demands for a discussion in the Parliament on China’s gold re-infiltration attempt in Tawang and the war with the Indian Army. On the 19th, Kharge targeted the Modi government in a public meeting on the side-lines of ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ in Alwar, Rajasthan. He also questioned the role of BJP-RSS in the freedom movement and said, “We fought for the freedom of the country. Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi gave their lives for the unity of the country. What have you done? A dog died in your house? Has anyone sacrificed?”
Due to Kharge’s comments, the BJP protested inside and outside the parliament. Kharge himself is the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. There, Rajya Sabha leader, Union Minister Piyush Goyal demanded that Kharge should apologize to the BJP, to the Parliament, to the people of the country. BJP alleges that Kharge spoke ill of the Prime Minister. Kharge, however, said that there is no need to discuss what he said outside the parliament. From his position, Kharge again said, “If I say what I have said here, it will only increase the discomfort of the BJP. They had no role in the freedom movement.” Apart from this, he said, “Those who apologized to the British during the freedom movement, are now asking us to apologize.” Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar had to intervene as the bickering between the two camps escalated. He said, “135 Millions of people are laughing at us. We are not children.”
Instead of apologising, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said, “The claim of inheritance of freedom fighters of Congress is wrong. Everyone knows what happened to Subhash Chandra Bose, BR Ambedkar, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Bal Gangadhar Tilak.” In Prahlad’s words, “This is not the original Congress. It is the Italian Congress. Many people think that the Congress president is actually a rubber stamp.”
Conclusion
BJP alleges that Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi are repeatedly insulting the country’s army by raising the question of China. On the 19th, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar complained in the Lok Sabha that Rahul had insulted the country’s army as Rahul criticized the Modi government for being soft on China. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh yesterday raised questions that even after the death of 40 soldiers of the army protecting the country’s borders, Prime Minister Modi said that no one has entered Indian territory. Was it respect for the army?