The Opposition parties will not allow Rajya Sabha to function, till the registration of an FIR against the woman minister Sadhvi Niranjana Jyoti (47) for the offensive remarks; she made at an election rally in Delhi on Monday, leaving the fate of various legislations, particularly the Insurance Bill in limbo.
The House was adjourned on Tuesday without transacting any business, even though prime minister Narendra Modi was believed to have personally intervened and directed Parliamentary affairs minister M Venkaiah Naidu to ask the religious preacher-turned minister of state for food processing to tender an unqualified apology in both Houses of Parliament.
The CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechuri told reporters that the ball is now in the government's court since minister has admitted in the House the obnoxious comments, she made while making a coloured statement "that is neither a regret, nor apology nor even remorse since all that she said was that she apologies if her comments hurt somebody." Congress deputy leader Anand Sharma also insisted that she has committed a compoundable and cognisable offence that has to be registered and investigated and prime minister Modi should better come to the House and explain if he has any other alternative except to remove her from the ministry until the investigation is over.
Yechuri cited a Constitution Bench judgment in case of Lalitha Kumari and a recent Calcutta High Court judgment that held that an apology in the House is no substitute to registration of the FIR in case of a cognisable crime. Minister of state for Parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi cited past practice of the matter being closed, once the concerned minister or member tenders the apology.
At the BJP press conference, another Minister of state for Parliamentary affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy wondered why the opposition parties were taking divergent stands in the two Houses when they have already accepted the minister's regrets in the Lok Sabha and carried on with other listed business. But the Congress sources said, they would use their might in Rajya Sabha to stall government business.
Government sources said, the prime minister Modi has reportedly cautioned all his ministers as well as BJP MPs not to use derogatory language since it only tarnishes the party's image. The Sadhvi MP from Fatehpur (UP), who joined the government in the reshuffle early last month, was campaigning as part of the BJP's policy decision to involve all party MPs in the campaign for the Delhi Assembly elections expected in February. In her controversial remark at a west Delhi rally that created the massive uproar in Parliament, the Sadhvi had asked Delhi voters to decide whether they want a government of "Ram-zaadon" (followers of Lord Ram) or that of "Haramzaadon" (those born illegitimately). Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said apology of the minister was not acceptable. "The prime minister must explain what action he plans to take against Niranjan Jyoti," he said.
BSP supremo Mayawati also sought FIR registered against Sadhvi Jyoti. She said, "The language used by a women minister of Central government is condemnable. Her saying that all the Indians as children of Ram is an attack on the secular nature of our country. FIR should be registered against the minister and action be taken against her."
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