Union Minister of State Giriraj Singh and Goa Chief Minister laxmikant Parsekar were on Wednesday in the midst of a massive controversy over remarks that were “described as highly “racists” and “sexists”. Known for his acerbic tongue, Giriraj kicked up a row by attributing Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s political rise to her “fair” skin. However, minutes after being reprimanded by his own party and pulled up by the Opposition, the Minister regretted his comments, describing these as “off the record.” “If Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are hurt by my remarks, then I regret them,” he said.
On the other hand, the Goa Chief Minister reportedly advised agitating nurses not to brace the sun as it would darken their skin. Parsekar has denied making the remark, but the controversy refuses to die down on Wednesday.
One of the nurses attached to 108 Ambulance Service alleged that Parsekar advised them that they should not stage a hunger strike in the sun. “When we met the Chief Minister over our demands at Ponda, he said the girls should not sit on a hunger strike in the hot sun as their complexion will become dark and they will not find a good bridegroom,” said nurse Anusha Sawant.
However, Parsekar claimed he knew the protesting nurse and hence remarked that she appeared different after sitting in the sun. “I never spoke about marriage proposals or any such thing. It was just a passing remark because I had seen that girl earlier and found a difference when I saw her again,” said the CM.
living up to his reputation of shooting from the hip, Giriraj is reported to have said in an informal chat to mediapersons at Hajipur in Bihar on Tuesday, “Had Rajiv Gandhi married a Nigerian woman and if she was not a white-skinned woman, would the Congress have then accepted her leadershipIJ”
Singh had also mocked Rahul Gandhi’s absence from the political scene and likened it to the “missing Malaysian airliner”. His remarks appeared to have embarrassed the ruling BJP and also evoked a sharp reaction from the Nigerian envoy who described them as “quite unacceptable”.
The Congress demanded Singh’s resignation as a massive row broke out over Singh’s slip — the latest chapter in the faux pas list of foot-in-mouth politicians. The BJP leader was in the eye of the storm during the lS polls for saying that those not supporting party’s PM candidate Modi should go to Pakistan.
In a speedy damage control exercise, the BJP dismissed Singh’s comments. Party spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said the BJP does not approve of any remarks made on the basis of caste, religion or race. It is understood that BJP president Amit Shah asked Singh to observe restraint so as not to embarrass the party and the Government.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra said he was appalled at the racist comments made by the Union Minister. “Appalled to read the comments by a Union Minister on the Congress president/my mother-in-law,” Mr Vadra said in a statement.
Minutes after Singh’s comment went viral, a furious Congress slammed the racist comment by the Union Minister and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to dismiss Giriraj.
Former Union Minister RPN Singh at AICC briefing said that Singh is not the first Minister or a BJP leader to make controversial remarks. Various women leaders also attacked Singh, who is Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, saying it reflected his racial mindset and attitude towards women.
Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria OB Okongor said that he intends to lodge a formal complaint with the Ministry of External Affairs over the racist remarks by Giriraj Singh. Taking strong objection to the remarks, Okongor said such comments were “unacceptable” and “in a very bad taste”. “We expect the Minister to withdraw the comments and apologise to the Nigerian people. We will notify our government about the issue,” said Okongor.
Recently Rajya Sabha was rocked by the comments of senior JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav who spoke of the colour and body shape of South Indian women that led to a row with HRD Minister Smriti Irani. Yadav was forced to regret his remarks on both the counts.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the derogatory remarks by Giriraj Singh against the Congress president was high condemnable. “It also showed the mentality of the Minister and it was not limited to just one person but also mirrored the thinking and understanding of the BJP and its leadership,” he said.
Nitish said the remarks on Rahul Gandhi were meaningless and racist. “Making a comment on whereabouts of Rahul and his missing from the public life has no meaning. Everybody in public life has liberty to go or live and it should not be made an issue,” he said adding that such remarks also showed that the BJP was desperate and frustrated over its failure to bring back black money, providing jobs and public outcry over the land acquisition bill. Now the BJP is being cornered by the public and the government has no answer, he said. “
Senior CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat questioned the Prime Minister’s “silence” and wondered how, under his leadership, the “worst” kind of statements were being made. RJD president lalu Prasad Yadav said he had crossed borders of indecency and demanded action against him. “He should be made to wear bangles, vermilion, bindi, and his face should be blackened” as he has “crossed borders of indecency,” he said at Patna.