Kharge Calls Nirmala Seetaraman 'Mataji'

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the Union Budget, claiming it favored Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, neglecting other states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and Odisha. 

Speaking in Rajya Sabha, Kharge alleged that the budget was designed to benefit NDA-ruled states and criticized the lack of allocation to opposition led regions.

He argued that the budget was aimed at securing political support rather than balanced development. 

Kharge expressed disappointment that Karnataka, among other states, received no significant allocation and announced that the INDIA alliance parties would protest from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.

During the session Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankar intervened reminding Kharge to respect Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, whom Kharge referred to dismissively as 'Mataji'.

Dhankar warned that democracy could be at risk if disruptions are used as political tactics.

Many in Parliament also mentioned in lighter vein that Nirmala is of the age of Kharge's daughter but not of mother to call her 'mataji'.