New Delhi, 15 December (H.S.):

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday demanded an apology from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for the offensive slogans allegedly raised by Congress workers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the party’s rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on Sunday.

The Congress rally, themed “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod” (Vote Thief, Vacate the Chair), has sparked controversy after videos surfaced on social media showing a section of participants shouting objectionable slogans directed at the Prime Minister.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Rijiju said Kharge, as Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, and Rahul Gandhi, as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, bear a constitutional responsibility to uphold parliamentary and democratic decorum.

“Both leaders must apologise to the Prime Minister and the nation on the floor of Parliament,” he asserted.Rijiju clarified that he had no objection to the Congress Party’s ideology or to Rahul Gandhi pursuing his political beliefs. However, he described the language used at the rally as “deeply unfortunate” and “a new low in Indian political discourse.”

He remarked, “Political parties can be rivals, not enemies. Our common goal should be to serve the nation and realise the vision of a developed India by 2047.”

The minister condemned the use of violent rhetoric against the Prime Minister, saying, “Raising slogans about digging graves or killing a Prime Minister is dangerous for democracy. Political discourse must have a limit.”

He stressed that neither the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nor its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have ever used such language against any opponent or their families, despite political differences.

“Parliament is in session, and it is only appropriate that both opposition leaders come before the House and apologise to the country,” he said.

Rijiju’s remarks come amid heightened political tensions in the winter session of Parliament, with the government and opposition clashing over multiple issues including governance, ethics, and public accountability.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar