The Crossbill News Desk
Rajasthan BJP MLA Gopal Sharma repeatedly referred to Congress chief whip Rafeek Khan as a "Pakistani" on the floor of the state assembly on Friday (March 7), triggering strong protests from the Opposition, particularly Congress legislators.
The incident occurred during a discussion on demand for grants for the Urban Development and Housing and Local Self Government departments, The Indian Express reported.
Sharma, who represents the Civil Lines constituency in Jaipur, made the remarks against Khan, the Congress MLA from Adarsh Nagar, Jaipur, when Khan was comparing the performances of the Congress and BJP governments.
Tensions escalated when Khan indirectly referenced Sharma, urging the chairperson to "impart some knowledge" to him.
As the chairperson, Sandeep Sharma, intervened and asked the BJP MLA to sit down, Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully strongly objected, questioning the repeated use of derogatory language in the House.
“What is this? This is some joke. A man says whatever he wants," Jully said, adding that such remarks were an attack on an individual’s dignity and honour.
Gopal Sharma: Repeat Offender
This is not the first time Sharma has made controversial remarks against Khan.
In 2023, during a Jaipur Municipal Corporation, Heritage Board meeting, he clashed with Khan, stating that he would not allow Jaipur to become a "mini-Pakistan."
The altercation led to a scuffle between councillors from both parties. Sharma had also previously accused Khan of trying to become "Jaipur ka Jinnah," referring to Pakistan's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
In response to Sharma’s remarks in the Assembly on Friday, Khan recited a couplet:
“Un ka jo farz hai vo ahal-e-siyaasat jaanen, mera paigaam mohabbat hai jahan tak pahunche” (The people of politics should know their duty; my message of love should reach wherever it can), the newspaper reported.
Opposition Demands Action
Later, Jully took to X (formerly Twitter), criticizing the BJP’s conduct in the Assembly.
“BJP leaders are competing to lower the level of their statements day by day. They do not see any difference between the speeches given in the Assembly and those given on the street," he posted.
He urged Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani and Leader of the House Bhajan Lal Sharma to take cognizance of the remarks and initiate action against Sharma.
Jully also called on Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to clarify whether such statements had his endorsement.
The incident occurred during a discussion on demand for grants for the Urban Development and Housing and Local Self Government departments, The Indian Express reported.
Sharma, who represents the Civil Lines constituency in Jaipur, made the remarks against Khan, the Congress MLA from Adarsh Nagar, Jaipur, when Khan was comparing the performances of the Congress and BJP governments.
Tensions escalated when Khan indirectly referenced Sharma, urging the chairperson to "impart some knowledge" to him.
As the chairperson, Sandeep Sharma, intervened and asked the BJP MLA to sit down, Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully strongly objected, questioning the repeated use of derogatory language in the House.
“What is this? This is some joke. A man says whatever he wants," Jully said, adding that such remarks were an attack on an individual’s dignity and honour.
Gopal Sharma: Repeat Offender
This is not the first time Sharma has made controversial remarks against Khan.
In 2023, during a Jaipur Municipal Corporation, Heritage Board meeting, he clashed with Khan, stating that he would not allow Jaipur to become a "mini-Pakistan."
The altercation led to a scuffle between councillors from both parties. Sharma had also previously accused Khan of trying to become "Jaipur ka Jinnah," referring to Pakistan's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
In response to Sharma’s remarks in the Assembly on Friday, Khan recited a couplet:
“Un ka jo farz hai vo ahal-e-siyaasat jaanen, mera paigaam mohabbat hai jahan tak pahunche” (The people of politics should know their duty; my message of love should reach wherever it can), the newspaper reported.
Opposition Demands Action
Later, Jully took to X (formerly Twitter), criticizing the BJP’s conduct in the Assembly.
“BJP leaders are competing to lower the level of their statements day by day. They do not see any difference between the speeches given in the Assembly and those given on the street," he posted.
He urged Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani and Leader of the House Bhajan Lal Sharma to take cognizance of the remarks and initiate action against Sharma.
Jully also called on Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to clarify whether such statements had his endorsement.
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