After their alleged inflammatory speeches at a condolence meeting held in Agra for VHP leader Arun Mahaur created a political furore, Union minister Ram Shankar Katheria on Tuesday claimed he did not
After their alleged inflammatory speeches at a condolence meeting held in Agra for VHP leader Arun Mahaur created a political furore, Union minister Ram Shankar Katheria on Tuesday claimed he did not name any community while BJP MP Choudhury Babu Lal remained unapologetic. Mahaur was killed allegedly by some youth from another community last week. The VHP distanced itself from firebrand Hindutva leader Sadhvi Prachi, whose comments in the wake of Mahaur’s killing invited criticism from various quarters. The VHP claimed that Sadhvi Prachi is “neither its leader, nor spokesperson nor any office-bearer” and her statements should not be linked to the VHP.
Justifying his reported remarks, where he had said if “Muslims have something in their mind, then draw a line and you will see the strength of the Hindu community”, Mr Lal, the Fatehpur Sikri MP, asked: “Tell me, if we don’t take revenge, should we worship them instead Is the community only meant to worship others while the other communities come and shoot us down ” He also demanded that the Akhilesh Yadav-led Uttar Pradesh government should take action to rein in such elements so that similar incidents do not recur. Mr Lal also claimed that Mahaur had lodged a police complaint that he was receiving death threats and his store was also set blaze.
“When such an incident will take place, will the Hindu community sit and watch the drama, will it not take action... then such incidents will keep on happening,” Mr Lal said.
When asked about his purported remarks, Mr Katheria, MoS for HRD, said, “What has been published in one of the newspapers is false. I had not taken the name of any community. I had said that the culprits who had murdered the VHP leader should be given the death sentence. I had also said that the Hindu community should unite for their safety. I will send a notice to the newspaper.”
The Opposition parties reacted sharply to the remarks by the BJP leaders, with Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge alleging that the BJP and the RSS had plans to divide the country.
“They speak whenever elections are nearing. They talk about dividing the country and not uniting. If they continue to speak like this, there will be repercussions across the country. Today we are raising this issue because Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Rajnath Singh are silent on this issue,” he said.
AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi said he is not surprised. “This has been the continuous, consistent and obnoxious behaviour by the Modi government. I am sure no action will be taken,” he said, adding this “was good because the real agenda of the government is being exposed”.
BJP spokesperson Shrikant Sharma said the minister has clarified his remarks. “Katheria has made it clear in his statement that he has said nothing wrong,” he said.
