Kharge’s ‘mataji’, ‘pakoda-jalebi’ jibe at FM; more of a ‘beti’, says Dhankhar

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said Bihar and Andhra Pradesh got “pakoda and jalebi” on their plates while other states got nothing as he raised the issue of alleged discrimination meted out to opposition-ruled states in the Union Budget.

Engaging in raillery and hurling barbs at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the House, the Congress veteran called Sitharaman “mataji” and said she is an expert in speaking, prompting Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to quip that she was more like his daughter.

As he made his forceful assertion of states being discriminated against, Dhankhar called Sitharaman to speak and clarify on the issue. But Kharge was in no mood of relenting and continued to speak.

“Let me speak,” Kharge told the Chair. “Mataji bolne mein toh expert hain mujhe maloom hai. (Mataji is an expert in speaking, I am aware of that).” Dhankar shot back that Sitharaman, 64, was like a daughter to Kharge, 82.

“Yeh mataji nahi, aap ke beti ke barabar hai,” he said.

Taking a swipe at Sitharaman, who represents Karnataka in the Upper House, Kharge said he was expecting that Karnataka would get the most but it got nothing.

“Yeh kursi bachane ke liye yeh sab hua hai... We condemn it and protest against it,” he said before leading INDIA bloc parties out of the House, terming the budget a “kursi-bachao” document.