Tezzbuzz Desk- On the last day of the monsoon session of Parliament, a heated debate was witnessed between the ruling party and the opposition regarding a statement by Congress President and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge in the Rajya Sabha. Kharge claimed in the House that the stage was 'cleansed' after his speech in Haldwani, Uttarakhand. He alleged that people associated with BJP did this. Kharge raised the question whether such incidents can be accepted in a democracy.
Rajya Sabha leader and senior BJP leader JP Nadda objected to this statement of Kharge. He said that BJP does not support any such act. Describing Kharge's allegations as serious, Nadda said that if such an incident has happened, it will be investigated and action will be taken against those found guilty.
What happened in Haldwani?
While speaking in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge said that he had come to address a public meeting at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani, Uttarakhand. He said that a large number of people were present in that program. According to Kharge, during his speech he did not take the name of any community or religion and only raised issues related to the government. He claimed that after his speech, a havan was performed on the same stage and the stage was 'purified'. Kharge raised the question whether this kind of behavior is appropriate in a democracy. He also raised questions regarding protection of the Constitution and social equality.
Kharge said that he did not want to make this incident a political issue. Referring to his long political experience, he said that he has been a member of Parliament for years and has also served in the Lok Sabha. He said that he never told anyone that he should be protected or sympathized with because he was a Dalit. The Congress President said that he has the ability to struggle and knows how to fight for his rights. He alleged that by purifying the stage in Haldwani, he was made to feel 'untouchability' and was insulted.
Nadda expressed objection to the allegations
After Kharge's statement, JP Nadda replied in the House on behalf of BJP. Nadda said that it is wrong to say that BJP got this done. He condemned any such incident and said that BJP does not support such acts. Nadda said that Kharge's allegation is serious and if such an incident has really happened then it should be investigated. He assured the House that the matter will be investigated and if any person is found guilty, appropriate action will be taken against him.
He clearly said that BJP does not support any kind of act which insults any person or promotes social discrimination.
Political debate intensified after the statement
After Kharge's statement, the debate between the ruling party and the opposition regarding this issue intensified in the Rajya Sabha. Congress raised questions linking it to social discrimination and Dalit honour, while BJP distanced itself from the allegations and assured an investigation.
Now only after investigation in this matter, it will be clear what actually happened on the stage after Kharge's program in Haldwani and whether those who conducted the 'purification' had any connection with any political party or not. At present, after Kharge's statement in Parliament and Nadda's reaction, this issue has come into the center of political discussion.