Rajasthan BJP MLA sparks uproar with ‘Pakistani’ jibe at Congress leader

A heated exchange in the Rajasthan Assembly on Mar 7 escalated into chaos after BJP MLA Gopal Sharma repeatedly called Congress legislator Rafiq Khan a "Pakistani," triggering strong objections from the Opposition.

The uproar unfolded during a debate on the Urban Development and Housing (UDH) grant demands when Khan criticized Sharma’s speech and countered his allegations against senior Congress leaders.

While drawing comparisons between the Congress and BJP’s urban development initiatives, Khan's remarks appeared to irk Sharma, who stood up and began chanting "Pakistani-Pakistani."

Outraged Congress MLAs vehemently opposed the remark, prompting Chairperson Sandeep Sharma to intervene and call for order. In response, Khan hit back at the BJP leader, questioning his conduct in the House.

The controversy deepened when Sharma also made remarks about Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, forcing an objection from the Chairperson, who reminded him that individuals not part of the Assembly could not be named.

Following protests from Congress lawmakers, Sharma issued an apology but later reignited tensions by making allegations against late Congress leaders, again apologizing after a pushback.

The repeated jibes and heated exchanges led to an uproar in the Assembly, exposing the deepening political tensions between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress in Rajasthan. (PTI)