The Winter Session of the Delhi Assembly that started on Wednesday witnessed heated debate over increasing “intolerance” in the country.
AAP MlAs referred to 1984 riots, Dadri incident, caste violence where two Dalit children were burned alive in Faridabad, Kerala House “beef” row and Emergency as reminder of “intolerance”.
Comparing India to Pakistan and Syria, AAP MlA Mahinder Yadav said, “The situation in the country has turned so worse that it can be compared to incidents of violence taking place in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Syria. The issue of tolerance is a point of worry.”
Commenting on the ruckus over AAP MlAs refusal to pay tribute to Vishva Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal, AAP leader from Janakpuri, Rajesh Rishi said, “The epitome of tolerance Mahatma Gandhi was compared to the personification of intolerance Ashok Singhal. This act is nothing but highly condemnable.”
However, his statement was countered from the BJP. leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta said Emergency in 1975, 1984 Sikh riots and how AAP leaders reacted to issue of tolerance is the biggest example of intolerance.
The three BJP MlAs accused AAP leaders of not acknowledging the VHP leader who was at the forefront of the campaign for a Hindu temple at the site of Babri Mosque in Ayodhya.
“The Speaker of the Delhi Vidhan Sabha did not allow proposal to a tribute to the late eminent leader Ashok Singhal. This is the best example of intolerance. A number of Aam Adami Party’s MlA used unparliamentarily language while referring to Singhal. They went to the extent of calling him “terrorist”. It should have shown broader and tolerant outlook in the Assembly,” said leader of Opposition in the Delhi Vijender Gupta.