A war of words erupted in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday as Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge’s remark—intended as a sharp critique of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—triggered outrage within the BJP ranks. Kharge had said his party was prepared to hold the BJP accountable, but a specific term he used sparked a controversy, with BJP MPs accusing him of making a derogatory reference to the Chair.
BJP’s national president and Leader of the House, JP Nadda, condemned the statement, calling it “unpardonable” and demanding both an apology from Kharge and the expunging of the remark from the records. In a rare show of remorse, Kharge immediately apologized and clarified that his words were aimed at the government’s policies, not the Speaker. “I am sorry. I was not referring to you (the Chair). It was about government policies. I apologize if my words hurt you,” he said, walking back on his initial statement.
This flashpoint followed a day of intense political clashes, beginning with a heated exchange between the Centre and Tamil Nadu over two contentious issues: the ongoing delimitation process and the alleged imposition of Hindi via the three-language formula in the new education policy. The BJP bore the brunt of these attacks, accused of using language unworthy of parliamentary decorum.
Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party, in particular, lashed out at Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after he made strong comments against the state, labeling it “dishonest.” Chief Minister MK Stalin responded, calling Pradhan “arrogant” and accusing him of behaving like a king. The dispute escalated into a full-blown parliamentary row, with DMK MPs protesting both inside and outside the House. In response, senior DMK leader Kanimozhi filed a privilege motion against Pradhan, accusing him of disrespecting the state and its people.
It was this tension that Kharge alluded to in his speech, where he decried the BJP government’s stance, particularly on the issue of Tamil pride. He condemned Pradhan’s comments as a direct attack on the dignity of Tamil people and called for his resignation, labeling the BJP-led Centre as guilty of “hurting the self-respect of a section of the country.” He even went as far as accusing the government of attempting to divide the nation.
The focus of the row in Parliament has been the twin issues of delimitation and the so-called ‘imposition of Hindi.’ The DMK, in particular, has labeled delimitation as an assault on the principle of federalism, and the introduction of Hindi in education policy as an act of cultural domination.
The central government has sought to defend its stance, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah reassuring that Tamil Nadu would not lose any parliamentary seats in the redrawing of constituency boundaries. However, critics argue that Shah’s statement lacked clarity on whether the northern states would gain more seats, further fueling suspicions of an agenda aimed at weakening the influence of the southern states in Parliament.
On the Hindi imposition issue, Education Minister Pradhan has dismissed Tamil Nadu’s fears, stating that the policy would only offer students a choice of a third language, which could be anything from Sanskrit to a foreign language, and that Hindi was not being forced upon them. But for Tamil Nadu, this argument holds little water. Chief Minister Stalin has accused the Centre of blackmail, alleging that funds would be withheld from states that do not comply with the policy in its entirety.
The BJP’s attempts to assure Tamil Nadu about the new education policy’s intent have thus far fallen flat. The push for a Hindi-centric education system, seen by many as an extension of the Centre’s dominance over regional identities, continues to stoke fears of cultural erosion. In the current atmosphere, Kharge’s apology to the BJP and the Speaker aside, the real battle remains over the larger issues of federal autonomy and the perceived imposition of Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states like Tamil Nadu.
As this political drama unfolds, one thing is clear: the Tamil Nadu-BJP divide shows no sign of resolving anytime soon. With the BJP’s centralizing policies taking a more aggressive form, and regional voices like Kharge and Stalin pushing back hard, India’s federal fabric is increasingly under strain. In the weeks ahead, this confrontation could take center stage as a key issue in the battle for national unity versus regional autonomy.
