Rajya Sabha witnessed intense moments on Monday as Congress President and Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge engaged in a heated exchange with BJP MP Neeraj Shekhar during a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address.

Kharge was criticizing the government’s handling of economic issues when he brought up the depreciation of the Indian rupee, pointing out that the dollar had crossed ₹87. Referring to a past remark by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had once said the rupee was in the "ICU" when it was around ₹60 per dollar in 2013, Kharge questioned the current economic situation.

As he spoke, Neeraj Shekhar, son of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, interrupted him, prompting a sharp response from Kharge. Clearly agitated, he retorted, "Your father was also with me here. What are you talking about? Sit down!" His remark sparked an uproar in the House, forcing Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to intervene and urge members to maintain decorum.

The heated exchange quickly went viral on social media, drawing criticism from BJP leaders. The video of the incident does not show Shekhar but captures the Chairman addressing him while calling for order.

Controversy Over Stampede Deaths

Kharge further stirred controversy by alleging that “thousands of people lost their lives during the stampede,” demanding that the government disclose the actual number of casualties.

Chairman Dhankhar asked him to retract the statement, to which Kharge responded by clarifying that it was his estimate. "If my number is incorrect, the government should reveal the truth. I am ready to be corrected," he said, adding that he had no intention of blaming anyone but expected transparency on the casualties and missing persons.

The debate in Rajya Sabha highlighted the deep political divide, with opposition leaders questioning the government’s accountability while BJP members criticized Kharge’s remarks.