New Delhi: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday, December 13, called Telangana Congress MP Revanth Reddy’s Hindi “weak Hindi” when the opposition MP sought a response from the Union government on the steps being taken to tackle the depreciating rupee against the US dollar.
During the Question Hour in Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said, according to HW News English, “Jo Telangana se aate hain, unke Hindi kamzor bol raha hain, mera Hindi bhi kamzor hain. Phir bhi kamzor Hindi ko kamzor Hindi main hi jawaab dunge ( [The man] who comes from Telangana says his Hindi is weak, even my Hindi is weak. Anyway, I will respond to his weak Hindi in my weak Hindi).”
Some of the lawmakers in the treasury benches are heard erupting in laughter at Sitharaman’s response.
Revanth Reddy hit back at Sitharaman for mocking his Hindi and said this was due to Sitharaman’s caste politics.
“Finance minister has commented about my language. This is not fair. I am a Shudra. I come from a village and I may not speak pure Hindi. She is a Brahmanwaad and her language might be good. That’s not a problem,” Reddy retorted, yet again in Hindi.
At this juncture, speaker Om Birla objected to Reddy’s use of caste names on the floor of the House. “Honorable members, I want to request you once again. This is a Question Hour. Honourable member has said that he comes from this caste and that religion. You have been elected not because of your caste or religion. I am telling you not to repeat such utterances in this House. Otherwise, I will have to take action. I am saying this on record,” Birla said specifically referring to Reddy.
When Reddy sought to respond to Speaker, Birla said, “Agar aap baar baar uthegi toh, main aap ko bahar nikalungi (If you stand up time and again, I will have to send you out).”
Speaking outside parliament to ANI, Reddy said, “The finance minister has sidestepped (issues I have raised). Instead, she said your language is not good, your food habits are not good and your dressing is not good. This means she treats those who eat onions and those who don’t differently. It means Shudhras and Brahmins are different. This is unbecoming of a minister and the parliament. This is unfortunate. Instead of spending energy on toppling governments in the country headed by the opposition parties, the government should invest its energy in strengthening the rupee and the economy.”
This is not the first time Sitharaman’s comments on the floor of the House drew criticism. In December 2019, the finance minister had said, “I don’t eat a lot of onions and garlic, so don’t worry. I come from a family that doesn’t care much for onions.”
The opposition slammed her reaction to questions on skyrocketing essential commodities, and called her “elitist”, which exposed her “Brahmanical arrogance”.
Reacting to the exchange between Reddy-Sitharaman on Monday, December 12, Telangana Congress took to Twitter to dub it as “Hindi imposition” and “insult” to Telugus.
Anyone can speak any language in this country, @nsitharaman stop Hindi imposition on Non-Hindi speaking majority in this country!
You’re not only insulting @revanth_anumula but also the whole Telugu and non-Hindi speaking people and regions of this country. pic.twitter.com/GtqXeRsVh1
— Telangana Congress (@INCTelangana) December 12, 2022
Response on rupee sets off discussion
The unsavoury episode began with Reddy seeking a response from the Union government on the measures being taken to arrest the falling rupee. In trying to put his argument about the depreciating rupee, he attempted to quote Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s words from the time when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. Modi had back then said the rupee was in ICU, which Reddy referred to in his question.
Birla objected to Reddy’s “bhashan (speech)” and instead asked him to limit himself to raising a question. Reddy said he was only quoting Prime Minister’s exact words and he should be allowed to do so. The Telangana MP also said the Speaker cannot stop him from asking his question.
To this, Birla said it was his right and duty to intervene when members spoke, and said he cannot be dictated that he cannot intervene. Leader of the Opposition and Congress MP, Adhir Rajan Chowdhury, requested the chair that his fellow MP be allowed to speak.
After a brief interruption, Reddy continued, ” When the rupee was at 66 against the dollar, it was stated that it had gone to the ICU. So now when the rupee is at 83.20, it seems like it is heading towards the mortuary. Does the government have any action plan to bring back the rupee home healthy from the mortuary? ”
Sitharaman in response said, “India has the fastest-growing economy but the opposition has a problem with it. Everyone should be proud of India’s growth but some people take it as a joke…some people in Parliament are jealous. The MP should know if he is quoting Modi at that time, not just the rupee but all other economic indicators were in ICU. Today, India is the fastest-growing economy.”
She said despite the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, India is performing well and “some people in parliament are jealous”.