A war of words broke out in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday during the ongoing Budget Session, as BJP leader and Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge engaged in a sharp verbal exchange. The incident occurred during a discussion in the Upper House when Nadda made a pointed remark that drew strong reactions from the Opposition.

‘Abodh Balak’ Comment Triggers Uproar from Opposition

While speaking during the proceedings, JP Nadda made a comment suggesting that certain leaders should not let their parties be taken “hostage” by an “abodh balak” — a term in Hindi meaning an innocent or naive child. Although he did not name anyone, the implications of his comment led to immediate protests from Congress MPs.

Congress President Kharge, present in the House, reacted strongly to the remark. The Opposition benches voiced their objection, interpreting the comment as an indirect reference to a prominent young leader in the Congress party.

Congress Protests Verbal Attack

Following the statement, Opposition members demanded that the comment be withdrawn, terming it inappropriate and disrespectful. They claimed that indirect personal references have no place in parliamentary discussions and accused the ruling party of resorting to mockery amid serious debates.

Kharge himself countered Nadda’s remarks, saying that such language lowers the dignity of the House. He insisted that debates should remain focused on policy and governance rather than personal references or veiled attacks on individual leaders.

Ruling Party Defends Statement as Political Criticism

Members of the treasury benches defended JP Nadda’s comments as part of routine political discourse. They maintained that his statement was aimed at the general style of leadership within the Opposition and was not meant to target any individual.

Despite this, loud protests continued for a few minutes, briefly disrupting the proceedings. The presiding officer eventually restored calm in the House, allowing the session to move forward.

Background to the Verbal Clash

The altercation took place during a politically charged session where both sides have been raising contentious issues. With general elections drawing closer, exchanges between the two major parties have grown increasingly pointed.

Past sessions have also seen similar incidents where remarks made during speeches sparked controversy and led to heated debates. Political observers note that the tone of parliamentary discussions often intensifies during Budget Sessions, particularly in the run-up to elections.

Parliamentary Proceedings Continue After Disruption

Despite the exchange, the Rajya Sabha resumed its business following the brief disruption. Discussions on the Union Budget and related matters continued for the remainder of the day, with both the government and the Opposition presenting their views on economic and policy issues.

No official apology was issued, and the remark in question was not expunged from the records at the time of reporting.

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