Cong, BJP spar over communal violence
14 Aug 2014 6:03 AM IST
Initiating the discussion, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that over 600 riots had taken place in various parts of the country in the two months since the Narendra Modi government came to power. Amid strong protests by ruling benches, he suggested that BJP and its affiliates were trying to ‘divide the society’ to retain power and warned that if it was not controlled, ‘we will repent’.
Naming Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal and referring to certain comments made by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Kharge said the ‘communal forces’ had got emboldened after BJP came to power as they feel that they have ‘political power’ now and would be protected. ‘We talk about uniting the society, you talk about dividing the society. You divide the society on the basis of religion and implant your principles on suppressed sections like minorities so that they remain away from power,’ Kharge told the BJP.
Countering his allegations, BJP’s Yogi Adityanath said it is the Congress which is spreading the menace of communalism under the garb of secularism. ‘They split the country on communal lines in 1947 and there is a conspiracy to split the country again on Pakistan’s agenda,’ he said, adding, ‘There were incidents that took place at Azad Maidan in Mumbai where police people were beaten up but the Congress never spoke on that issue. They also did not speak up when Kashmiri Pandits were displaced from their homes.’
‘There is a conspiracy against the Hindu way of life and the people are uniting against this. Hindutva is a symbol of Indian nationalism. The Hindu religion does not allow the superiority of any one religion. Even Muslims who go for Haj are known as Hindus,’ he said.
Earlier, due to the absence of home minister Rajnath Singh or minister of state Kiren Rijiju the Lok Sabha was adjourned. When Kharge started the debate, his party colleagues pointed to the absence of Singh and Rijiju, saying such an important matter ‘should not be taken lightly’ by the government.
The Congress sought their presence and suggested that the House be adjourned for 30 minutes to ensure their presence. The Speaker then adjourned the House for half an hour.
Even though the House took up a debate on the communal violence nearly a week after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi led his party members into the well to demand an urgent debate on the issue, he remained mum on Wednesday.
Naming Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal and referring to certain comments made by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Kharge said the ‘communal forces’ had got emboldened after BJP came to power as they feel that they have ‘political power’ now and would be protected. ‘We talk about uniting the society, you talk about dividing the society. You divide the society on the basis of religion and implant your principles on suppressed sections like minorities so that they remain away from power,’ Kharge told the BJP.
Countering his allegations, BJP’s Yogi Adityanath said it is the Congress which is spreading the menace of communalism under the garb of secularism. ‘They split the country on communal lines in 1947 and there is a conspiracy to split the country again on Pakistan’s agenda,’ he said, adding, ‘There were incidents that took place at Azad Maidan in Mumbai where police people were beaten up but the Congress never spoke on that issue. They also did not speak up when Kashmiri Pandits were displaced from their homes.’
‘There is a conspiracy against the Hindu way of life and the people are uniting against this. Hindutva is a symbol of Indian nationalism. The Hindu religion does not allow the superiority of any one religion. Even Muslims who go for Haj are known as Hindus,’ he said.
Earlier, due to the absence of home minister Rajnath Singh or minister of state Kiren Rijiju the Lok Sabha was adjourned. When Kharge started the debate, his party colleagues pointed to the absence of Singh and Rijiju, saying such an important matter ‘should not be taken lightly’ by the government.
The Congress sought their presence and suggested that the House be adjourned for 30 minutes to ensure their presence. The Speaker then adjourned the House for half an hour.
Even though the House took up a debate on the communal violence nearly a week after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi led his party members into the well to demand an urgent debate on the issue, he remained mum on Wednesday.
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