Rajnath Singh seeks apology on Day 1 of intolerance debate

Verbal clashes and repeated adjournments were wi nessed during the debate on “intolerance” in the Lok Sabha on Monday after CPI(M) member Mohammad Salim made some remarks against Union home minister Rajnath Singh which were later expunged by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.

The debate, in which several MPs participated, remained inconclusive and will wrap up Tuesday with the home minister’s reply.

Mr Salim, shortly after he started the debate (for which he had given prior notice), made some remarks against Mr Singh while citing a news magazine report. The remarks immediately evoked strong reactions from BJP members and the home minister sought an apology from the CPI(M) MP. However, Mr Salim refused to take back his words and this led to a deadlock in the House. Skill development minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy exhorted the Speaker to urge the CPI(M) member to apologise otherwise it would become difficult for the House to function.

Mr Singh said he was deeply hurt by the comments made against him and claimed that never in his political career had he faced such allegations.

Bhartruhari Mahtab of the Biju Janata Dal sided with the Treasury benches and quoted the rule book to say that an allegation against a minister or member cannot be made without giving prior notice. Saugata Roy, whose party Trinamul Congress is a bitter rival of the CPI(M), however, batted for Mr Salim by citing another rule. CPI(M) member Mohammad Salim walked to the Lok Sabha secretary-general and authenticated the news magazine article on the basis of which he had made the comments against Mr Singh.