PM Modi, Mallikarjun Kharge share millet lunch after Congress chief’s ‘dog’, ‘mouse’ jabs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday attended a lunch along with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and other MPs in Parliament where millet dishes were served.

“As we prepare to mark 2023 as the International Year of Millets, attended a sumptuous lunch in Parliament where millet dishes were served. Good to see participation from across party lines,” Modi tweeted sharing some pictures of the lunch.

Interestingly, the lunch event was conducted after ruling and opposition members in Rajya Sabha earlier in the day sparred over certain remarks made by Kharge in Rajasthan’s Alwar, with treasury bench members seeking an apology from him for the “foul” comments.

At a rally on Monday, Kharge had claimed that while the Congress stood for the country and helped attain Independence after its leaders gave supreme sacrifices, “not even a dog of the BJP was lost” for the country.

He had also alleged that the BJP government “talks like a lion but acts like a mouse” as it is not taking on China for indulging in incursions along the border and is running away from a debate on the issue in Parliament.

Meanwhile, addressing the BJP lawmakers at the parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday, Modi asked his party colleagues to mark 2023 as the year of the millet.

Modi has been focusing on popularising the use of the grains, underlining its health benefits and how beneficial it will be for farmers as well.

According to a party functionary, all MPs have been asked to make a millet calendar for the next year to popularise its use. The PM also urged the lawmakers to ensure sporting events in their respective constituencies. He particularly spoke about the need to promote Kabbadi.