Full text: Come clean on the agenda of your govt, Supriya Sule tells Modi sarkar

Below is the full text of Sule’s speech:

I thank you very much. It is really an irony of history when we look back at this debate, we will definitely wonder that we were discussing the Constitution Day for two days and immediately after that, we are discussing Intolerance in India.

I think, that is really a strange happening. With great disappointment, I stand here to participate in this debate. India is going through a lot of challenges. When the mandate for this Government came, we all hoped that we are looking for a developed India. But today if you read any newspaper or watch any channel, actually we are looking at a divided India. It may be at the superficial level, but it still exists in everybody’s mind. There are very serious concerns from various sections of society.

There is a debate today on tolerance and intolerance. Every society in the world has tolerance and intolerance. I appreciate the statement of the hon. Home Minister when he started the debate by saying that let us not make it political, let us really talk about people who have suffered and find solutions for it. I am grateful that he is present here today. I would definitely like to say that I represent and come from a state which is suffering of intolerance. Intolerance does not have to necessarily mean blood shed and death, like it unfortunately happened in Uttar Pradesh.

In Maharashtra, we are very proud of our tradition. We come from an exceptionally modern State which gave direction to bring change in this nation whether it was women’s rights, whether it was Dalit’s rights. We do not just talk about Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Ambedkarji in speeches. But they have really brought a social reform and they have given direction to this country for decades in India. We are very proud of our heritage. But the unfortunate part today in Maharashtra is that everything that has happened in my State, which I must say that I am ashamed of. We travel the entire country. The first question people ask me today is “tumhare Maharashtra mein kya ho raha he?” The reason being, what happened to Shri Sudeendra Kulkarniji? I may not agree with all his ideologies. I have objection to the word ‘tolerate’. Why do we have to tolerate each other? Why can we not co-exist together where we hear each other, it does not matter if one is right or wrong, whether we believe it or not. Just because you and me disagree, it does not mean that you are an enemy and I have to tolerate you. I think I have objection to the basic idea of tolerate and intolerate. What happened to Shri Sudeendra Kulkarniji was not only something which ashamed me. That programme is appreciated and attended by all across party lines in Delhi but there is a problem in Mumbai. Nobody makes an intervention in it. We have a young Maharashtra Chief Minister. What is he really doing for it? That is my personal disappointment. (interruptions)

I have no love lost for cricket. My grandfather played cricket and I am very proud of it and that is where my interest lasts. But anyway, at social level what happens in BCCI is totally condemnable. The other thing that happens is cancellation of music programme. People from all over the world come to perform. I think music and languages have no culture; they bind the entire world together. After the cancellation, the hon. Chief Minister intervened and said, ‘I will give you protection.’ If he had that opportunity, why did he not go ahead and attend the show to prove a point that, ‘yes, in my State, I will not let this happen.’ He gives very mixed signals.

So, the whole point is, this entire mandate that he has got … (Interruptions) I tell you one thing about power. When we are ordinary citizens, we can say whatever we want. But when we are elected representatives, we represent people and there is a certain decorum in Parliament when we come here, especially when we are debating intolerance, I think especially people who are in power … (Interruptions)

Sir, this is where my objection is. Whoever heads the country and leads the country, is the father figure of the country and he is like the head of the family. When one is head of family, there are three ways of looking at it. I look at it when I look at my children. If my children do something wrong, if I participate Us kriti mein sahbhag kar rahi hoon. Agar sahbhag nahi kar rahi hoon, kuch bolu nahi toh usse kehthe hai, anumodhan kar rahi hoon. Agar mein naun rahu toh be aap bolenge, galti tumhari hai, tum ma ho, tumne kuch kyun nahi kaha? This is my objection to the Government.

The hon. Home Minister is very patiently listening here. Why can’t all his Members not listen? This is the problem with this party. … (Interruptions) This is the crux of the problem. Their senior leadership is entirely divided. That gives me pain. … (Interruptions) I appreciate what Shri Kiran Rijiju said. I was listening very patiently yesterday to what Meenakshi Lekhi said. She is a good friend of mine. I appreciate that she has really studied a lot and come here. This entire discussion is not whether beef is banned or who banned it or not. That is not the question. Even if it is banned and whoever banned it, we have objections. We may have differences on it. I appreciate that Shri Kiran Rijiju got up and clarified that he has no objection; each one should eat whatever one likes and live in whichever State one lives in. I represent Maharashtra. In Maharashtra it is banned, but in Goa it is not banned. So, Maharashtrians can go to Goa and eat it, which is also fine with us. But what really happens in this banning is that when they all make such progressive statements- Arunji makes progressive statement- there are people in the party who say, this is what it is. Aap kriti mein bag nahi lethe shayad anumodhan bhi nahi karte, lekhin jab maun rakhte hai, then it gives us that it is a game going on here.

There is an English saying; there is a good cop and a bad cop. So, some play good cop and some play bad cop. So, what is really the clean agenda of this Government? I think this is the time you really need to rise to the occasion and tell the nation that this is an opportunity that you have to clean up everything. … (Interruptions) This is an opportunity for them because they keep talking about Smart Cities. We are happy if you are making all our cities smart. We are very happy if you are making India digital. But do the issues like beef ban and ghar wapasi really come in Digital India and modern India that you keep dreaming of? You take us on this beautiful dream; you took this whole nation on the dream. I think the time has come when you put your heart to where your mouth is and really deliver the results that you are committed to. I think you really need to introspect because it is not about just returning. This is not the first time that literary people are returning awards. If in one go so many awards are coming back, at least rethink what it is. What Shri Jaidev Galla said in his speech is partially right and partially wrong.

He said in his speech that if there is a Government in the State and a Government in the Centre, how is the Government in the Centre responsible for law and order? If the same Government is in the Centre – of BJP or anybody – and also in the State of Maharashtra which is also BJP, who do I turn to? When I want to look for my rights and all these wrong things are happening in my State, who do I turn to? Both are of the same party. When you say, it is only a State subject, it is not only a State subject; when they come back to the Centre for help for everything, why are you not addressing this issue especially when their own colleagues are constantly talking about it? So, that is the answer I am looking for. … (Interruptions) Shri Rajnath Singh, I am looking for help from you. You said, ‘Give me solutions’. My solution is, ‘Please tell your Members of Parliament and your respected Ministers to think before they talk.’ That is the only solution. If they stop talking, we would not need this debate. … (Interruptions) It is not only about the society. Voh kaha jayega? Desh chodkar voh bichara kaha jayega? He really works hard for two square meals and put his children through education for a better life.

There are these two film actors whose contribution to ‘make in India’ is very good. So, let us not run down Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan. They have contributed substantially globally for India. Why does it have to be somebody glamorous to make such news? Even if it is a common person, I think we owe it to those people. If they are feeling insecure, it is your duty because you are in a position of power and it is your job to do it. So, I take this opportunity to just remind them.

Another thing which is constantly coming up in various speeches is the death of various people. It is very important. Whether it is Shri Dhabolkar, Shri Pansare or Shri Kalburgi, they are all very liberal three sons of this soil. They were definitely attacked by some format which is of intolerance. Mostly what happens is, there is a group called the Sanatan Sanstha in Maharashtra which endlessly talks. Shri Ashok Chavan has been Chief Minister of Maharashtra. He knows how much trouble this ideology costs. They all worked on it. It went even to the Central Government. So, I urge Shri Rajnath Singh to find out what is in the file on Sanatan Sanstha. They keep threatening noble and modern people in Maharashtra. They write letters to them. Unfortunately no action so far has been taken. My only urge is that two wrongs do not make a right. (Interruptions)

MoS MHA (Kiren Rijiju intervenes): You are asking the Home Minister to clarify on the Sanatan Sanstha. The file which we have gone through clearly states that the then Home Minister Shri Chidambaram had categorically stated in the file that there is no reason to ban that Sanstha. So, this is the decision of the then Home Minister. You cannot throw the ball in our court.

Sule: You are the Government now. (Interruptions)

Rijiju: They have filed an affidavit in the court also.

Sule: This means, everything we did was right and they will follow the same rules. Thank you, Shri Rijiju. This means, you are reassuring that everything that our Home Minister did was right. Thanks for the compliments! So, just follow the same track. These are the issues. It is not an issue whether they were in Government or we were in Government. When something goes wrong, it takes a lot of conviction and courage to say that even if I was in the helm of affairs what happened was wrong. We admitted it.

When Shri Dhabolkar was shot, our Government took the ownership and said it was wrong and we will do everything that we can. We even reached out to the Home Ministry at the Centre and asked them to help us to find out who these killers were. I take this opportunity to ask you to please look into what happened to Shri Pansare and Shri Kalburgi because these are really important sons of the soil who we have lost for intolerance.

I am not saying whether they are associated with you or us or anybody else. These are very serious issues. Even about the awards, so much has been said. When the Gujarat riots happened, Shri Vajpayee was at the helm of affairs here. Nothing was returned there because people were sure and confident that the man at the helm of affairs at the Centre was a liberal man. That is what India is looking for. … (Interruptions) I agree, you will have a greener India and a cleaner India but if it is not safe for me as a woman, we are not looking for that. I am speaking here as a woman. Whether for temple entry or some puja, some new trend has started. It was probably there but it was not boiling. So, do not stir the pot that does not need to be. Let me tell you one thing that we are looking for a model. You all keep saying: ‘Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas’. Even we women want to be in that ‘Sath’. These are great slogans.…

Haryana has just done this. I think, Sir, the time has come to rise to the occasion. Let us not get into petty politics. We have very many other issues. What my earlier speaker has said is true. There are mal-nutritional challenges, education challenges and health-care challenges. I would urge the hon. Rajnath Singh ji and make just one request, to make sure that his Ministers do not talk out of context and hurt anybody’s emotion. That is not what they are elected for. They took oath on the Constitution. If you are having these debates on Constitution, at least read it and follow it. That is all our suggestion.

Thank you, Sir.