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'135 cr people laughing…': VP Dhankhar on BJP-Cong spat over Kharge's 'dog' jibe
Dhankhar appealed repeatedly for order and admonished the agitating legislators, warning of 'a very bad example'.
Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday expressed his disappointment at the squabble between lawmakers from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and those from the opposition - protests broke out over Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's controversial 'has even your dog died for (the) country' - had the vice president lamenting 'unruly scenes and chaotic behaviour' and urging MPs to maintain the decorum of the House.
"This House, on both sides, is a platform of expression. This House has to reflect and take note of everything that happens outside… everything spoken here carries a great weight. Anyone who wants to take anything should take recourse to rules," the chairman said.
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Earlier today, as the Rajya Sabha was prepping for the day's agenda, protests broke out as Treasury bench lawmakers rose against Kharge's remark. Dhankhar appealed repeatedly for order and admonished the agitating legislators, warning of 'a very bad example'.
READ | 'Has your dog...' row: BJP takes on Kharge, Cong chief won't back down
"We are setting a very bad example... this kind of conduct gives (Parliament) a bad name. Even the observations of the chair that are wholesome are indigestible. What a painful scenario we are having."
"Trust me... 135 crore people are laughing at us. They are concerned and thinking that we cannot listen to each other," the ex Bengal governor added.
After a measure of order was restored, Dhankhar invited union minister Piyush Goyal (also Leader of the House) to address MPs and raise the relevant issues.
Goyal slammed Kharge over the use of 'foul language' in his speech.
"I strongly condemn it and demand an apology... way he (Kharge) used foul language reflected his thinking, jealousy... He may be jealous his party is not being accepted (but) use of such foul language is an insult of this House."
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The Congress chief hit back strongly, though, and refused to apologise, insisting that remarks made outside the Parliament could not be discussed inside it.
On Monday Kharge - while at the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra now in Congress-ruled Rajasthan - hit out at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the festering row over China's repeated border transgressions, most recently in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang this month.
The Congress chief said his party had helped India gain independence and then ranted, "... they claim to be patriots and if we say something we are termed as deshdrohi (anti-nationals) ...has even your (the BJP's) dog died for the country?"
