After Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Singh, grandson of Chaudhary Charan Singh who was conferred the Bharat Ratna on Friday, spoke in the Parliament, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge questioned under which rule of the House Jayant Singh was allowed to speak.
Amid speculations of the BJP-RLD alliance, Singh praised the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government for conferring the Bharat Ratna to his grandfather.
As soon as Singh started thanking the government for the honour in Rajya Sabha, Kharge wanted to know the rule under which the RLD leader was allowed to speak.
Kharge said it is a matter of pride and he “salutes” former prime ministers P V Narasimha Rao and Charan Singh and agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan, all of whom are being conferred with Bharat Ratna.
“There is no debate on honouring leaders with Bharat Ratna. I salute everyone. But if a member wants to raise an issue, you (chairman) ask ‘under which rule’. (I want to know) under which rule he (Jayant Singh) has been allowed to speak. Give permission to us also. On one side you talk about rule…You have discretion…that discretion should be used judiciously and not when you want…,” Kharge said, leading to a huge uproar in the House.
Meanwhile, Jayant Singh said that he was shocked with the “disrespect” to Charan Singh being shown in the House by the Congress.
“I am indebted. Only a government which is rooted to ground realities understands the voices from the ground and strengthens them, can honour ‘Dhartiputra’ Charan Singh with Bharat Ratna,” Jayant Chaudhary said.