Kharge takes a swipe at FM Sitharaman in Rajya Sabha

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Wednesday (July 24) condemned the "discriminatory attitude" of the Centre in the Union Budget.

Kharge says the thaali of all states is khaali and only two states have been given pakoras and jalebis.

As Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman stood up to respond to Kharge, RS Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar requested the LoP to yield the floor. Kharge took a swipe at Sitharaman saying, "Mata ji bolne mei maahir hain" (she is an expert in speaking). Dhankhar responds saying "she is like your daughter".

As Sitharaman got up again to respond, Opposition staged a walk out. Chairman Dhankhar condemns Kharge and the Opposition for their attitude. Sitharaman says the Opposition should have stayed in the House in the spirit of Parliamentary democracy to listen to her response to what he had said.

Sitharaman said the Congress should know that in a budget speech, the finance minister doesn't always get a chance to name every state. Sitharaman says she has not ignored any state and that just because the speech doesn't mention the states it doesn't mean that states will not benefit from the schemes of the Centre.

Sitharaman asserted there is a deliberate attempt by the Opposition led by the Congress to give an impression to the people that nothing has been given to other states except two; it is an outrageous allegation.