Congress on Thursday took to the streets demanding the dismissal of Union Minister Giriraj Singh for his controversial remarks against Sonia Gandhi, with party activists staging protests on city roads. While Youth Congress staged a protest outside a residential complex in Delhi where Giriraj Singh lives, another demonstration was staged by Delhi Mahila Congress outside BJP’s headquarters at 11 Ashoka Road in Central Delhi.
Police swung into action and took away the banners from protesters who had gathered outside Vithal Bhai Patel House. They foiled an attempt to burn Singh’s effigy. The protesters were later bundled off in a police bus. Singh had apparently left for Bengaluru last evening to attend BJP’s National Executive meeting.
The protesters led by DPMC chief Onika Mehrotra were carrying placards and shouting slogans demanding the removal of Singh, who is the Minister of State for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) from the Union Council of Ministers. “How can the chapter be closed with the mere withdrawal of the statementIJ This is not enough,” said Mehrotra. She also threatened to file an FIR against Singh for making “racist” remarks against Gandhi.
Police had barricaded the stretch outside BJP headquarters and a large number of police personnel were deployed at the spot. The protesters then marched toward Parliament Street police station to court. The Minister has kicked up a row with his remarks asking whether Congress would have accepted Sonia Gandhi’s leadership had she not been white-skinned. “Had Rajiv Gandhi married a Nigerian woman and if she was not white-skinned, would Congress have then accepted her (Sonia’s) leadershipIJ” he had told journalists on Tuesday.
The comments were slammed by a furious Congress, which asked the Prime Minister to dismiss him and apologise to the nation. Various women leaders also attacked Singh saying it reflected his racial mindset and attitude towards women.