Opposition raised a din in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday regarding certain remarks recently made by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat about Mother Teresa and demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi should condemn it. The House saw sharp exchanges between BJP member Vinay Katiyar and Opposition members over the issue leading to a brief adjournment after Congress, SP and JD(U) members came into the well.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi tried to pacify the agitating members and said the entire country respected Mother Teresa and there was no contradiction or confusion about the service rendered by her. Dissatisfied with his reply, Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said a one-line resolution should be brought to condemn the remarks. His demand was supported by Naresh Agrawal (SP) and P Rajeeve (CPI-M).
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Derek O'Brien (Trinamool Congress) without naming Bhagwat said his remarks were an "insult" to all Bharat Ratna recipients as well as Parliament. Katiyar objected to the remarks leading to vociferous protest by the entire Opposition. The House then saw sharp exchanges between some members of treasury and Opposition Benches. As the uproar continued and members trooped into the Well, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
When the House reassembled, P Rajeeve(CPM) alleged that a "process of de-iconisation" of certain individuals was behind the remark and "this is an attempt of communalisation of the country."
Naresh Agrawal (SP) claimed that such comments were being made as the Government wanted to hide its failures and sought the Prime Minister's clarification.
later, some Opposition members castigated the Government for neither condemning hate speeches, nor acting against those making them and said the ruling dispensation was actually an "RSS Government."
Speaking on the motion of thanks on the President's address, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said though the Prime Minister has stressed on tolerance, he has neither condemned, nor given any assurance that action would be taken against any person, who violates the law by making such speeches.
BJD member A V Singh Deo also criticised the Prime Minister for not condemning RSS-BJP leaders' statements on the issue of religious conversions.