Kharge’s ‘will drag you out’ remark at Shah sparks Rajya Sabha face-off, later clarified

The Rajya Sabha witnessed a sharp exchange on Thursday after Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge told the House that 'Jan Shakti' (people's power) would drag Home Minister Amit Shah out. The remark came during a debate on the anti-paper leak Bill, as the Monsoon Session of Parliament continued.

What sparked the clash

Kharge was speaking on the proposed legislation when he pivoted to broader concerns about student safety. He accused the Home Minister of being responsible for alleged police brutality against students protesting the NEET exam controversy.

“The Home Minister is responsible for police brutality on students. ‘Jan Shakti’ will drag him out,” Kharge said, his voice rising in the chamber. The comment immediately drew sharp reactions from treasury benches, with several BJP members demanding an apology.

Clarification follows uproar

As the House turned noisy, Kharge stood his ground initially. However, amid continued protests, he later clarified his words. “My statement was not directed at any individual personally. It was about the system and the growing anger among the youth. If anyone felt offended, that was not my intention,” he said.

Sources said the clarification came after consultations with senior Congress leaders, who felt the remark could derail the party's strategy of cornering the government on the NEET issue.

The anti-paper leak Bill debate

The larger context of the face-off was the debate on the anti-paper leak Bill. Kharge had earlier termed the government's approach a “hogwash”, arguing that tweaking the law would not solve systemic issues in examination conduct.

“Can this Bill prevent leaks? The government is simply trying to deflect attention from its failure to protect the interests of students,” he said. The Congress has been pressing for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the NEET irregularities.

Cross-party reactions

BJP members accused Kharge of using unparliamentary language. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Chair should take note of the “threatening tone” used by the LoP. “Such language sets a wrong precedent for parliamentary discourse,” Rijiju said.

JD(U) and other NDA allies also expressed discomfort, though some opposition members backed Kharge, arguing that he was merely articulating public sentiment.

What happens next

The Rajya Sabha is expected to take up the anti-paper leak Bill for a vote later this week. With the Kharge remark now on record, the opposition may face scrutiny over maintaining decorum. The government, meanwhile, is likely to use the incident to question the Congress's commitment to parliamentary norms.