New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday (March 11) saw an uproar with treasury benches demanding an apology from the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Mallikarjun Kharge who used the term “thokenge” while referring to the government’s policies. While Kharge apologised within minutes, Leader of the House and Union minister J.P. Nadda said that despite his apology, his remark in reference to the government remains “condemnable” and must be expunged from parliamentary records.

After the question hour, as the Rajya Sabha took up the discussion on the working of the Ministry of Education, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) members raised slogans demanding an apology from Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan. 

On Monday, Pradhan while speaking in the Lok Sabha had accused the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government of being “dishonest,” “ruining the future of Tamil Nadu students,” calling them “uncivilised,” “undemocratic” and alleged that the party was using language for politics to deny the state’s students of a pan-India education model through its opposition to the National Education Policy (NEP). While the DMK accused the minister of insulting the state, Pradhan later asked for his remark to be withdrawn. 

As DMK members raised slogans demanding an apology from Pradhan, opposition members asked for Kharge to be allowed to speak but deputy chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh said that he had already allowed the Congress MP to speak in the morning.

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“In the morning the education minister was not present. Is this a dictatorship? I am requesting with folded hands but I am not being allowed. Hum bolenge, aur kya kya thokna hai wo hum thokenge (we will speak and what we have to speak we will hit back),” he said.

Treasury benches erupted in protest as Leader of the House Nadda rose to say that Kharge had used unparliamentary language and must apologise.

“It is very unfortunate that someone who has served in the state and the parliament, the language that he has used, and the aspersions he has cast on the chair is condemnable. He should condemn and he should apologise for the word and the language used against the chair. It is unpardonable. It is not worthy of forgiveness but he should apologise or his remarks should be expunged,” said Nadda.

Kharge immediately apologised and said that he did not use the word for the chair but with regard to government policies.

“I am sorry, I was not speaking about you, I was referring to government policies. I am sorry if you were hurt by my remarks, I apologise to you," he said. 

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"If you are hurting the self-respect of a part of this country and people, and calling them uncultured and uncivilised, then you should resign as minister. He is talking about dividing the country,” he added, referring to Pradhan’s remark on Monday.

Nadda then rose to say that while Kharge had apologised, the remark even in reference to the government remains condemnable and should be expunged.

Earlier on Tuesday, DMK MPs dressed in black, held a protest in parliament premises demanding Pradhan's apology.

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