Piyush Goyal and Mallikarjun Kharge have a verbal spat in Rajya Sabha over the G20 emblem.
The Rajya Sabha witnessed an exchange of words between House Leader Piyush Goyal and Opposition Leader Mallikarjun Kharge after the latter took a jab at the G20 emblem during India’s presidency. During the 75-year legislative journey of India, Kharge emphasized the importance of controlling inflation and unemployment rates, stating that democracy would be jeopardized otherwise.
“The democracy will be destroyed if inflation is not controlled on time and unemployment continues to rise,” Kharge said in the upper chamber, urging that the administration find answers to the difficulties that India is now facing.
Touting about ‘G2’ is fine, Kharge added, as he enquired about the correct nomenclature for the 20-member group from colleagues.
“(It’s) G20, sir,” Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar responded.
In response, Kharge stated that he mistook the zero in G20 for the lotus, referring to India’s presidency insignia.
“No, because the zero looked like a lotus,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi joked, eliciting laughs from the opposition benches.
Piyush Goyal, who objected to his statements, begged Kharge not to “make fun of the G20.”
“But the leader of the opposition, who is also the Congress president, only sees 2G, one ji, and son ji…,” he continued, referring to previous party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
A visibly irritated Kharge responded, “When it comes to the nation, we are all united…but don’t think that you are the only patriots.”
Patriot, hamare log hain, jaan, diye, mar gaye, maza aap utha rahe, or humko seekhate?””Are you reaping the benefits and teaching us?”
During his address, Kharge also asked the chairman to lift the suspensions of two AAP members, Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha, who were suspended during the House’s session and move into the new Parliament building.