Samajwadi Party MP Naresh Agarwal’s controversial comments on linking Hindu gods and goddess to certain types of alcohol led to a ruckus in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The senior SP member was forced to retract it after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and other BJP members sought his apology and the Chair expunged his “objectionable” remarks.
Agrawal’s comments created uproar in Parliament forcing adjournments with allegations that the SP leader insulted lord Ram. The SP leader made the comments while speaking on a debate in the House on recent incidents of lynching and murders in the name of cow protection.
“He has linked each of the Hindu Gods with a brand of alcohol. If he would have made this statement outside Parliament, he would’ve been booked. Do you have the audacity of repeating this in relation to any other religious denominationIJ Would you do thisIJ” said Jaitley, demanding an apology.
Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said Agrawal should not have made these remarks which “per se are derogatory” and should withdraw them. Kurien, who missed the remarks as he was busy speaking to a member, verified the records and expunged the comment.
Kurien ordered that the statement should be expunged from the records of the House and it should not be published in any form in any print or broadcast in television media. However, he regretted that he did not have control over the social media and directed the Centre to look into the matter.
Congress leader Anand Sharma and TMC leader Derek O’Brien too said it should be ensured that these comments do not surface on the social media and passions are not inflamed.
Agarwal later said if his remarks had hurt the sentiment of anyone he was withdrawing them. The controversial statement came when he was talking in the context of how some people have become Hindu religion’s ‘thekedar’ (contractors).
When the SP member made the comment, MPs sitting next to him were seen having a good laugh over it. But Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar objected saying, “Agarwal has not insulted a single person. He has insulted a community,” This followed loud chants of ‘maafi maango’, ‘maafi maango’.
later on Agarwal clarified on the floor of the House that he is a Hindu and worships lord Ram and that he was just quoting writing on a dharmshala wall. “I exposed them who are doing politics over lord Ram,” the MP said talking to the media outside Parliament.
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury tried to intervene, saying the matter should be allowed to rest. “Naresh Agrawal has said something offensive. You (Chair) have gone on record condemning that. It is my appeal that let the House function,” Yechury said. However, the ruling party members were adamant on Agrawal tendering apology.
Amid slogans like “Bhagwan ka apman nahi chalega (insult to the God will not be allowed)”, “Sri Ram ka apman nahi chalega (insult to lord Ram will not be allowed)” and “Apne devo ka apman nahi sahega Hindustan (India will not tolerate insult to its deities).” SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav said Agrawal will not tender apology even if the entire Session has to function like this.