Swamy against funding of minority institutions, remarks expunged

New Delhi, April 28

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Thursday said that he objected to minority institutions being funded by the government, a remark that caused the Congress to protest and led to another one of his remarks being expunged.

Swamy, whose statements accusing Congress president Sonia Gandhi of being involved in the AgustaWestland helicopters corruption scam brought an agitated Congress to the Well of the House on Wednesday, yet again courted controversy on Thursday after he referred to the Constitution of another country: remarks that were eventually expunged.

The Chair also warned him against "unnecessarily provoking" members on the other side following protestations against the remark from Congress members. Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien also warned the media against reporting the statement.

Trouble broke out after Chaudhary Munavver Saleem (SP) in a Zero Hour mention referred to Swamy being part of the movement in 1970s to protect the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

Swamy got up to clarify he had no objection to minority educational institutions but claimed the Constitution prohibited the State from financing them.

When the Opposition countered his statement, he brought into the debate another country, a reference that brought Congress to the Well.

Kurien said he was expunging the reference but that did not satisfy the Congress.

The BJP MP, who took oath only on Monday, responded that he was only replying to his name being referred to by another member of the House and yet again referred to the country, drawing rebuke from the Chair.

 "I will take action against you. Subramanian Swamy you are unnecessarily provoking. I will have to take action against you... you are provoking," Kurien said.

Opposition called it deliberate provocation. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said he was "needling and provoking" by bringing in reference to another country.

‘BJP’s new gift to us’

As protests continued, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad referred to Swamy as BJP’s new gift to the House

"The problem is the new gift of BJP. Problem is not on this side," adding that two of Swamy’s remarks have been expunged in just as many days.

"There are 365 days in a year, how many times are you going to expunge his words," he asked the Chair.

Swamy was nominated to the House earlier this week. — PTI