Kharge hits back at PM Modi's '56-year-old youth' taunt with '56-inch chest' jibe

Parliament witnessed a sharp exchange on Monday as Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge retaliated against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's jibe about a '56-year-old youth' with a pointed question: 'Where did your 56-inch chest go?'

The retort came during a heated session in the Lok Sabha, where opposition parties were pressing for a discussion on the police crackdown on protesters during the recent Sansad Chalo march.

The '56-inch chest' exchange

Prime Minister Modi had earlier targeted the Congress leadership by referring to a '56-year-old youth' in a dig at Rahul Gandhi's age and political relevance. Kharge, known for his no-nonsense style, fired back immediately.

'You used to boast of a 56-inch chest. Now you call someone a 56-year-old youth. Where did that chest go?' Kharge asked, drawing laughter and cheers from opposition benches. The remark was a direct reference to Modi's own 2014 election campaign boast about his '56-inch chest' symbolising strong leadership.

The exchange underscored the growing tension between the ruling BJP and the Congress-led opposition over recent events.

Congress demands discussion on police action

The uproar in Parliament was triggered by a police crackdown on protesters participating in the Sansad Chalo march, called by various opposition parties to highlight issues of unemployment and inflation. Visuals of students being baton-charged and detained have sparked widespread criticism.

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has been at the forefront of the attack. He demanded that Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah apologise to the nation and resign over what he called a 'brutal assault on democratic rights'.

'Completely un-Indian. The Prime Minister must apologise and resign, along with the Home Minister,' Gandhi said in a statement. He added that the government was acting like a 'dictatorship' and suppressing dissent.

Opposition unites against crackdown

Several opposition parties have rallied behind the Congress, calling for a joint parliamentary committee probe into the incident. The Congress has also warned that those responsible for beating protesters will face the 'lathi of the Constitution'.

'The youth of this country are not afraid. They will hold this government accountable,' Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said. The party has accused the Modi government of using police force to stifle legitimate protest, a charge the BJP has denied.

The BJP, in turn, has accused the Congress of playing politics and disrupting Parliament. 'The opposition has no agenda other than to stall the House. They are protecting anarchists,' Union minister Kiren Rijiju said.

What happens next

The Parliament is expected to remain deadlocked as the opposition refuses to relent. The government has so far not agreed to a dedicated debate on the police action, instead offering a general discussion on law and order. The Congress has indicated it will continue its protests both inside and outside the House.

All eyes are now on the Speaker's decision and whether the ruling party will budge under pressure. With the opposition united and public sentiment simmering, the political temperature shows no sign of cooling.