Spat between Kharge and BJP MP in Lok Sabha

New Delhi, Feb 25: Lok Sabha on Thursday, Feb 25 witnessed a brief spat between Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Delhi BJP MP Ramesh Vidhuri.

The spat occured when Kharge said that only Prime Minister Narendra Modi had thumped the desk in appreciation when Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu presented the Railway Budget earlier in the day, but none of the BJP MPs did.

As Vidhuri sought to counter him, Kharge said "go to your seat. You are not so senior (to sit in front benches)... You cannot talk to me like that". Vidhuri, who was speaking from the front rows of the Treasury benches and was not in his seat, was heard saying "I am a member of Parliament".

While initiating the debate on Motion of Thanks, he also drew the attention of the Chair that neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu were present in the House.

"I am not saying that they have to listen to me. But it is about the culture of the House and since you claim to be cultured people.... To keep the pride of the House alive, they should have been here," Kharge said. Shortly later, Modi arrived in the House followed by Naidu.

PTI