BJP fumes over Congress MP’s ‘separate nation’ remark; all for unity: Mallikarjun Kharge

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NEW DELHI: The BJP on Friday sought an apology from the Congress for a controversial statement by its MP that suggested a call for a separate South nation over fiscal “injustice”. Leader of the Opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, however, said the party stood for a united nation and would not tolerate any such call.

This came amid a walkout by Opposition INDIA MPs from both Houses in protest against the alleged reluctance shown by Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan to invite Champai Soren to form the government in the state following resignation by Hemant Soren as Chief Minister. In the Rajya Sabha, Kharge and BRS member K Keshava Rao criticised the Governor for not making interim arrangement in the state after JMM leader Hemant Soren resigned as CM. They drew parallels with developments in Bihar wherein Nitish Kumar, after having resigned as CM, was asked to continue till a new government was formed, and was sworn in again as CM, all in a matter of 12 hours.

Anticipating Opposition flak on the Jharkhand issue, the BJP tried to turn the tide by playing up Congress MP DK Suresh’s comment that allegedly smacked of “separatism”. As soon as zero hour began, Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal said a Congress MP, who is also the brother of a Deputy CM of a Congress-ruled state (Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar), had advocated separation from India. He demanded apology from the Congress.

Kharge argued Suresh was not a member of the Rajya Sabha and matter pertaining to him should not be discussed in the Upper House.

Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar interrupted Kharge and said in a ruling last year pertaining to comments made by Congress LS member Rahul Gandhi abroad, he had observed if any allegation was brought against an LS member in the Rajya Sabha, a notice was required to be given to the Chair. Dhankhar asked Goyal to submit his complaint against the Congress MP with proof.

In the LS, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi spearheaded the attack against Suresh. “I demand an apology and action from Sonia Gandhi. This is a violation of his oath (as an MP)… I urge the matter be sent to the Ethics Committee… Congress should take action,” Joshi said, adding otherwise the Congress would be perceived as a party that supported balkanisation of the country. Suresh, in reaction to the Union Budget, told reporters injustice had been meted out to South India. “If we do not condemn it today, in the coming days a necessity will arise to put forth a proposal for a separate nation (for the South),” Suresh said.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said while the Congress objected to discussing charges against an LS member in the Upper House, it showed no compunction in criticising a constitutional functionary such as the Governor of Jharkhand who was acting against corruption. Kharge dissociated himself from Suresh’s comment and said anyone, irrespective of party affiliations, who speaks about splitting the country, will never be tolerated.