Congress created ruckus in the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on Thursday over reported statement of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Sadhvi Prachi on Mahatma Gandhi demanding action against the Sadhvi.
The Congress members entered the well of the House during the zero hour demanding action against the VHP leader for insulting Father of the Nation. Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey rejected their plea saying the members cannot raise the issue as they have not given any notice. “First give a notice then raise the issue in the House,” he said while persuading the leaders to go back to their seats.
Congress legislature party leader Pradeep Mathur said that the VHP leader was giving controversial statements almost every day and no action has been taken against her till date. “Government should immediately arrest the VHP leader for insulting Bapu. Insulting Bapu is like insulting the country,” he said.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mohammad Azam Khan too admitted that the matter was serious. It has become a fashion to issue statements against Father of the Nation. This has become a tool to gain popularity. Who knew about her before she gave this statement,” he asked.
“Recently a youth in my hometown posted a derogatory comment against me. Everyone said he is a youth but he is 35 year old man. Opposition leaders like leader of the opposition Swami Prasad Maurya objected when police arrested that youth. It is unfortunate that the opposition rakes about law and order situation but when we take action they oppose it,” he said.
Khan also supported Congress for initiating action against the VHP leader. Such persons should be arrested and sent to jail. He also requested Speaker, Vidhan Sabha to call a meeting of all the leaders to discuss the issue. A VHP leader Prachi had said in a public rally in Ghaziabad that Mahatma Gandhi was a “British agent” and his contribution towards independence of the country was “negligible”, She had said India got freedom because of the efforts of Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Ram Prashad Bismil and Subhash Chandra Bose.
She was addressing a Hindu Dharam Sammelan there. Early this week UP Vidhan Sabha had adopted a censure motion against a retired Justice Markandey Katju for calling Mahatama Gandhi a British agent. The lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha too had passed similar motion against the retired judge.