NEW DELHI, Aug 1:
Rajya Sabha today witnessed a brief uproar by opposition members over alleged remarks by Manohar Parrikar against actor Aamir Khan even as the Defence Minister denied having said what was been quoted to him.
During the Zero Hour, Derek O’Brien (TMC) raised the issue of “dangerous” rise in religious fundamentalism in the country, saying the Government, ministers and people associated with the ruling party were “shooting their mouths off every day”.
“The Prime Minister needs to come and say these are in fact mistakes, this is not thinking of the Government. Prime Minister come here and assure us that we can live in the India we know — Unity in Diversity”.
As soon as he finished his Zero Hour mention, Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad quoted a report which said ‘Parrikar takes swipe at actor Aamir; Those who speak like this must be taught a lesson’.
“So may I ask him (Parrikar who was sitting in the House) what lesson he is going to teach us…The entire nation should be told what type of action and lesson he is going to teach the minorities of this country,” Azad said.
To this, Parikar said: “I would only say one thing. Let the members see the video…And make up their mind”.
However, this did not pacify the agitated opposition.
Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said what the minister had said was “highly objectionable”.
“It is a matter that borders on the question of privilege. Tomorrow you are going to threaten me … You will say there will be a social boycott, we will make them withdraw what they have said,” he said.
Deputy Chairman P J Kurien tried to pacify the members. “Minister says please see the video. It means he has not said (as quoted in media)”.
Parrikar said he did not take anyone’s name. “What is quoted is not what I have said. I never took the name of anyone, nor threatened anyone,” the Defence Minister said.
Recent reports had quoted Parrikar as saying that anyone speaking against the country must be “taught a lesson” while referring to alleged anti-national sloganeering at JNU earlier this year as well as remarks by an “actor” who “had said that his wife wants to live out of India”.
Ram Gopal Yadav (SP) said he has seen the video in question and whatever the minister has said is a “direct threat” to the minorities of the country.
Azad again said if Parrikar had threatened Pakistan, everybody would have been with him.
Amid uproar, BSP chief Mayawati said ever since the BJP- led Government has assumed office at the Centre, religious minorities, especially muslims, have been targeted.
“Now, atrocities against dalits are on rise. We want the Prime Minister to come in the House and respond,” she said.
Azad said that an MP can be “pardoned”, but Defence Minister or Home Minister are supposed to protect the territorial integrity of the country.
“Is this the way of protecting territorial integrity of the country? You are alienating your own people,” said the Leader of Opposition.
As the uproar continued, Kurien said members could give a notice for discussion on the issue. He also said if a minister has given a provocative statement, there are rules to deal with it.
On a lighter vein, the Deputy Chairman also said he was ready to spend money from his own pocket to supply rule book to every member.
Earlier soon after listed papers were laid on the table, Anand Sharma (Cong) tried to raise the issue of continued attacks on dalits and Muslims by cow vigilantes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, should come and give a statement in the House on the issue.
Last week during a discussion on the issue, a minister had intervened but outside the Parliament he had praised the organisation involved in the attack, Sharma said, adding the Prime Minister “should come and explain,” he said.
Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar Ansari raised the issue of death of Bihari labourers at an under-construction building in Pune.
Ansari sought Rs 10 lakh compensation for each of the worker who were killed, while alleging that the building that was being constructed was unauthorised.
Yadav said that labour laws were being rampantly violated in the country and even in the Parliament House complex, workers have been hired on contract.
Ram Gopal Yadav (SP) raised the issue of flooding in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh due to rivers flowing out of Nepal.
Talking about the recent flooding and resultant traffic jams in Gurgaon, Rajiv Shukla (Cong) said “Gurugram (Gurgaon) has turned into Gurujam”. (PTI)
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