NEW DELHI, Dec 2:
Controversial remarks by Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti today rocked Parliament with Rajya Sabha being paralysed for the day as a united opposition insisted on her sacking despite her apology.
Under all round attack from opposition benches, Jyoti said in Rajya Sabha, “If certain words spoken by me outside the House have hurt someone, I take back my words and offer regrets. However, if the House feels so, I am also ready to seek an apology.”
In Lok Sabha, she said, “My intention was not to hurt anyone. If my speech outside the House has hurt anyone, I express my deep regrets and accept…”
However, Opposition members stormed into the Well demanding her sacking. “A mere apology will not suffice. She will have to resign,” was their refrain.
Soon after both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha met for the day, opposition members created uproar over Jyoti allegedly making communal remarks and using an expletive in an election rally here and demanded that she should be sacked. They also sought an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Members of Congress, TMC, SP and other opposition parties rushed to the Well leading to repeated adjournments in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha during pre-lunch sitting.
When Rajya Sabha reassembled at 2 PM after four adjournments, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury cited a Supreme Court as well as a Calcutta High Court order to drive home the point that mere apology was not enough and an FIR should be filed against her and she should be sacked.
Yechury’s argument got instant support from TMC, Congress, SP, JD-U and Left parties.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas
Naqvi sought to calm down the Opposition by contending that Jyoti has already apologised and the matter should be put to rest in keeping with tradition.
But the Opposition remained adamant as Deputy Chairman P J Kurien expressed his inability saying the remarks were made outside the House.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is also Leader of the Rajya Sabha said Jyoti’s remarks were “improper and unacceptable”.
He, however, said the House cannot decide whether her action was criminal in nature and it should be left for the agencies outside the House.
With repeated pleas of Kurien to bring order in the House going unheeded, he adjourned the House for 10 minutes — the fifth adjournment since morning.
As the tempers ran high when it reassembled, he adjourned it for the day.
Seeking to mollify the agitated members in Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said it was a “serious” matter and the minister concerned wanted to express regrets in the House.
Congress had given adjournment notices in both Houses on the issue, but they were rejected. (PTI)
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