Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed “serious” the remarks made by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, by calling the entire Hindu society violent and he, along with Home Minister Amit Shah and other Ministers, demanded an apology from the Congress leader.
Intervening during Rahul’s speech, Modi said, “This issue is very serious. Calling the entire Hindu community violent is a serious issue.” Besides Modi, who intervened twice, at least five Cabinet Ministers also interjected during Rahul’s speech with Shah demanding his apology for painting the Hindu community as violent.
The second intervention by Modi came when Rahul alleged that Ministers do not greet him due to the fear of Modi, the Prime Minister said democracy and the Constitution have taught him to take the Leader of Opposition seriously.
Shah said the ruckus created by the Opposition cannot drown the fact that the words —”those who call themselves Hindus indulge in violence” — were used in the House.
Shah spoke of the Emergency and 1984 anti-Sikhs riots to hit back at Rahul, saying he has no right to talk about non-violence when the Congress had spread “ideological terror” in the country.
Shah said Rahul insulted “crores of Hindus” by saying that Hindus commit violence, lie and spread hatred. “He should apologise for this,” the Home Minister demanded.
Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Kiren Rijiju accused Rahul of denigrating the responsible position of the Leader of Opposition with his “extremely irresponsible” speech in the Lok Sabha.
They also accused the Congress leader of inflicting “grave insult” on the Hindus by allegedly linking them with violence and spreading untruth.
Rijiju said the ruling BJP has challenged many of the claims made by Rahul in his speech in the Lok Sabha and has sought action from the Speaker.
He will have to substantiate or tender an apology, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said slamming his allegations on Agnipath scheme and compensation for the residents of Ayodhya during development projects there.
BJP Rajya Sabha member Sudhanshu Trivedi said the Congress has a history of insulting Hindus, as he cited former home ministers P Chidambaram and Sushil Kumar Shinde’s alleged terrorism barbs for the religion.
Union Health Minister and BJP president JP Nadda also lambasted Rahul, accusing him of combining lies and hatred in his speech.
“It was a worst show by Rahul on his first day. Third time fail LoP has a knack for agitated, flawed logic. His speech today has shown that neither has he understood the mandate of 2024 (his third successive loss) nor does he have any humility,” Nadda said.
Slamming Rahul for his remarks, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy said democracy will remain intact and there will also be peace “so long as Hindus are in majority” in the country. Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar flayed Rahul for his remarks and said the Leader of Opposition only made “baseless remarks” in his speech and did not give any “positive suggestion” in the House.
BJP’s partner in NDA, LJP leader and Union minister Chirag Paswan also slammed the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha saying the Congress leader started opposing the devotees of Lord Shiva in his attempt to oppose the government. Paswan also accused the former Congress president of lowering the dignity of the post of the leader of Opposition.
“While opposing the government, he started opposing Shiv bhakts, I am one of them. I believe in Lord Shiva. The way you were waving Shiva’s image in the House for your political benefits, no follower of Shiva will tolerate that,” he added.
