Union Minister Giriraj Singh may have regretted his “racist” remarks against Congress president Sonia Gandhi, but the controversy is unlikely to die down any time soon. While Sonia said she would not respond to such people with “narrow mindset,” Congress workers took it to the street across the country and two Bihar courts ordered lodging of an FIR against the Minister. However, the BJP, which is holding its National Executive meeting in Bengaluru, sought to downplay the issue by terming it as a “closed chapter” after the Minister’s expression of regret.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who was in Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh to survey damaged crops and meet farmers, said, “I don’t think it is proper to respond to persons having narrow mentality.”
Congress workers protested vehemently in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Jaipur, Srinagar among others demanding sacking of the Minister. They filed a complaint against Giriraj Singh in Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga courts in Bihar for his remarks against the Congress president, following which a case against Giriraj was registered under Section 166 of the IPC (public servant disobeying law with intent to cause injury to any person).
Giriraj had kicked up a row with his remarks asking whether the Congress would have accepted Sonia Gandhi’s leadership had she not been white-skinned.
While the Youth Congress staged a protest outside the Minister’s residential complex in Delhi, another demonstration was staged by Delhi Mahila Congress outside BJP’s headquarters at 11, Ashoka Road. Singh has left for Bengaluru to attend BJP’s National Executive meeting.
The BJP said it considers the matter closed as the Minister has expressed his regret. “Giriraj Singh has clarified his position. The matter has ended and should not be made an issue by our opponents. Giriraj Singh has expressed his regret. The BJP considers the matter as closed,” BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters in Bengaluru.
Delhi Mahila Congress chief Onika Mehrotra said this cannot be a closed chapter. In Bengaluru, Congress and NSUI workers assembled near the hotel where top BJP leaders have gathered for the party’s two-day National Executive meeting from Friday. Karnataka Mahila Congress chief Manjula Naidu condemned Singh’s “racist” remarks and said an apology from him would not do and he should be sacked from the Union Ministry.
In a series of tweets, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Raj Babbar said that the BJP leader must be sent to a mental asylum. “Perhaps, he is suffering from mental illness. Should thus, resign & be sent to asylum for recovery. Giriraj Singh’s remarks have hurt Indians,” Babbar tweeted.