Subramanian Swamy in row over remarks again, warned

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy caused massive protests from the Opposition Congress for a second day in a row on Thursday after he made some controversial remarks in the Rajya Sabha which the Chair immediately expunged and warned him of action for “unnecessarily provoking” members on the other side. On Wednesday he had caused similar scenes in the House after his attempts to drag Congress chief Sonia Gandhi into the AgustaWestland helicopter row.

Ordering the media not to report the remarks, deputy chairman P.J. Kurien expunged Dr Swamy’s reference to the Constitution of another country. Dr Kurien said he was expunging the reference to the Constitution of another country. But that did not satisfy Congress members who continued to shout slogans against Dr Swamy. Congress members shouted “CIA agent” to counter Dr Swamy while the BJP member shot back chanting “ISI, ISI”.

The trouble started soon after Chaudhary Munavver Saleem (SP) in a Zero Hour mention referred to Dr Swamy being part of the movement in the 1970s to protect the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

The BJP MP, who took oath only on Monday, got up to clarify, saying he had no objection to minority education institutions but that the Constitution prohibits the state from financing them.

Dr Swamy was countered by Opposition MPs and responded by dragging in the name of another country, a reference that led to agitated Congress members rushing into the Well.

He insisted that since his name had been taken by another member, he has a right to reply and again referred to the other country, drawing a sharp 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,” Dr Kurien said.

Jairam Ramesh stated that Dr Swamy was “needling and provoking” by bringing in a reference to another country. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “The problem is the new gift of the BJP. Problem is not on this side.”

He said Dr Swamy was just two days old in the House and his remarks have already been expunged twice. “There are 365 days in a year, how many times are you going to expunge his words,” he asked the Chair.

Mr Azad said Dr Swamy does not know the difference between street language and parliamentary words. “He does not allow his hair to grey so he can learn and mature,” he said.

As Dr Kurien asked Congress members to resume their seats, they wanted the Chair to ask Dr Swamy to take his seat first. “You cannot direct me like that. You are shouting on nothing. I have expunged (the remarks) then and there,” Dr Kurien said.

As Congress members returned to their seats, Dr Swamy was up on his feet again. Dr Kurien asked him to resume his seat. “You sit down now. Come and meet me in the chamber later.”

Earlier, when the House assembled for the day’s proceedings and new member Navjot Singh Sidhu took oath, Dr Swamy tried to raise the VVIP helicopter deal, but Congress members shouted him down. “I am not going to mention that lady’s name,” Dr Swamy said.

During Zero Hour, when Dr Kurien asked JD(U) member Pavan Varma to speak on the issue he wished to raise, Mr Naqvi stood up to say that it should have been Dr Swamy’s turn as his name was there on the list. “His name is there on the list, how can it be changed at the last minute,” Mr Naqvi asked the Chair.

Dr Kurien replied that the list Mr Naqvi was referring to was not the final one. Not satisfied with the reply, Mr Naqvi said it is not expected that the Chair would discriminate between members and said the BJP member has a right to speak. Dr Kurien responded saying, “Ministers should not make such complaints”, and added that they should instead find out the factual position. “I know the factual position better,” Dr Kurien added.

Mr Naqvi persisted but Dr Kurien remained firm. “If you or Subramanian Swamy have complaints, you can approach the Chairman,” he said and allowed Mr Varma to raise his issue.