Opposition demands measures to check assaults

NEW DELHI, Dec 4: The Lok Sabha today witnessed heated exchanges between the opposition and treasury benches on the reported assaults on ...

NEW DELHI, Dec 4: The Lok Sabha today witnessed heated exchanges between the opposition and treasury benches on the reported assaults on minorities with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Lal Khurana saying the issue will be taken up for discussion on Monday.

The Opposition, irked over Gujarat Government’s reported move to stop aid to educational institutions which support today’s protest by Christians, attacked the Centre alleging that assaults on minorities had been on the rise in several states and demanded steps against such incidents.

The issue came up in the House after Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra (SAD) raised the issue of ransacking of Guru Ramdass Academy in Dehradun. He alleged that some miscreants belonging to Garhwal Shikshak Sangh also locked up students and damaged the Guru Granth Sahib.

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“We want to live in this country with honour and dignity and Sikhs cannot allow anyone to damage and dishonour the holy Guru Granth Sahib,” he said demanding stern action against themiscreants.

Several members including Ajit Jogi (Cong), Arif Mohammad Khan (BSP), Mohan Singh (SP) and Basudeb Achariya (CPM) supported the issue.

Khurana assured the House that culprits would not be spared and said that Home Minister L K Advani had been apprised of the facts.

P C Thomas (Kerala Cong) who raised the issue was joined by P J Kurien (Cong) who said if the State Government had warned institutions against taking part in the “democratic protest”, the Centre should come out with a statement on it.

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However, some MPs from the ruling side said Opposition members were “misguiding” the House and demanded an apology from them.

Khurana said the minorities issue would be taken up for discussion in the House on Monday.

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