The Congress will intensify its protest against Union minister V.K. Singh in Parliament for his “dog” remarks.
The Congress will intensify its protest against Union minister V.K. Singh in Parliament for his “dog” remarks. This was indicated after the its MPs, led by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, on Monday staged a protest outside the Parliament House, demanding Mr Singh’s removal from the Cabinet.
Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, party leaders Anand Sharma, Deepender Hooda and several others participated in the protest held shortly before the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Assembled for the day.
Later speaking to reporters, Congress leader Mr Jyotiraditya Scindia said that they were raising the issue as it was about “the behaviour of a Central government minister against a particular community, in fact Indians per se”.
He said that the government needs to take action and only giving speeches was not enough.The Congress also raised the issue in the Lok Sabha in a different way, with party leader Mallikarjun Kharge protesting deletion of certain comments made by him on the issue last week.
Mr Kharge complained to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan during the Zero Hour that part of what he had said in the House on December 2 on issue related to Mr Singh has not become part of the records despite the fact that she had not expunged any of his statements on that day.
The Speaker told him that he could not raise an issue without giving any prior notice as she was herself unaware of the matter.
Minister of state for parliamentary affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy objected to the Congress leader speaking in this manner, saying it was like “free for all” which cannot be permitted.
Mr Kharge referred to certain rules to which Ms Mahajan said, “There are no rules in the Zero Hour. I don’t even know the subject. You give notice and I will look into it.”
The Congress leader said it was “gross injustice”. Some other opposition leaders, including P. Karunakaran (CPI-M), urged the Speaker to let Mr Kharge speak.
The Opposition party has been trying to corner the government over controversial “dog” remarks of Mr Singh after two dalit children were burnt alive in Haryana.
