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Journalism of Courage
With the Opposition disrupting proceedings in the Upper House for the third consecutive day over Minister of State Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti’s Ramzaadon-versus-haramzaadon remark, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday told Rajya Sabha he “strongly disapproved” her comments. He asked members to accept her apology and let the House function but the Opposition seemed to be in no mood to relent.
Making a statement in the House, his first public remarks since the row, Modi pointed out that Jyoti was new to Parliament. He even made a reference to her “background”.
“The statement that has led to a controversy, you all know that when this came to my notice, I raised the issue at a meeting of our party MPs and strongly disapproved use of this kind of language. I also said we should avoid such things,” he said.
“Mantriji, jo ki nayi hain, sadan mein pehli baar aaye hain, unke background se bhi hum sab bhali bhanti parichit hain… unhone kshama maangi (The minister, who is new and has come to Parliament for the first time, and whose background is also well-known to all of you, has apologised)… I believe that after her apology… and this House has so many senior members with so much experience, we all know their view on an apology,” Modi said.
“I appeal to the House that when the minister has apologised… this is a message to all of us that in future we must follow the dos and don’ts and not cross limits of dignity. I appeal to the House that in the interest of the country, we should move on with our work,” he said.
Jyoti triggered a row last Monday when she told a BJP rally in Delhi: “Aap ko tay karna hai ki Dilli mein sarkar Ramzaadon ki banegi ya haramzaadon ki. Yeh aapka faisla hai (You must decide whether you want a government in Delhi of those born of Ram or of those born illegitimately).”
But Modi’s statement in the House failed to break the deadlock. The Opposition refused to relent on the demand for Jyoti’s dismissal. Congress’s Anand Sharma, CPM’s Sitaram Yechury and JD(U)’s Sharad Yadav sought clarifications from the Prime Minister, but these were disallowed. This led to protests and repeated adjournments. The Rajya Sabha was finally adjourned for the day at 2.40 pm.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is also Leader of the House, said since the Prime Minister had made a statement, as demanded by the Opposition, the House should be allowed to function.
Yechury said the minister had not apologised and had merely expressed regret. “Assuming that she has apologised, then you apologise only when you have committed some crime,” he said, demanding action against Jyoti.
In Lok Sabha too, the Opposition pressed for a statement from the Prime Minister, failing which they decided to boycott proceedings for the day. The Congress and Trinamool Congress members staged walked out.
