Govt, Oppn clash in RS over VK Singh’s presence
5 Dec 2015 4:20 AM IST
The Rajya Sabha on Thursday saw a clash between the government and the Opposition after Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Congress members opposed the presence of Union Minister K Singh and demanded his dismissal from the government over his controversial “dog” analogy after the killing of two Dalit children in Haryana.
The BSP and Congress members created an uproar and trooped into the Well of the House, seeking Singh’s exit, which was countered by the treasury benches. Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien also asserted that the minister has every right to be in the House.
Trouble started when Singh arrived in the House and took seat. BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra rose, saying that Singh cannot be allowed to sit in the House “even for a minute” and should be “thrown out” as he has “violated” the Constitution.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who rushed to the House to defuse the situation, said Singh would not leave. He dismissed the attack against Singh as a “canard” and accused the BSP of doing politics in the name of caste.
An unfazed Singh, a former Army Chief who was earlier seated in the back row, moved to the second row.
As tempers rose, the Deputy Chairman said it was not for the Chair but for the court to decide who violated the Constitution and who did not. “As a minister, he has the right to be here. We cannot ask a minister to go back. We are not here to judge whether someone has violated the Constitution,” he said.
However, the BSP was not amused and created uproar, forcing Kurien to adjourn the House twice. The BSP leader said Singh is “not entitled” to sit in the House as he has “insulted” the House.
He also took objection to Singh “smiling” and appearing “happy” in the House even as the issue was being raised. “You have used such a language against Dalit. You have used such a language, compared a human being, a Dalit to some animal. And yet you are smiling, you are happy. You should be ashamed,” the BSP leader said and asked Singh to “take pension” and “sit outside”.
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi took objection to this, saying the BSP members are “insulting” an honourable member and it is a “matter of privilege”. Soon the BSP members along with some Congress members, including Pramod Tiwari and PL Punia, trooped into the Well. As the row continued, Naidu said, “it’s a canard being spread against the minister.”
Pak thwarting creation of ‘environment’ for talks: VK Singh
India is willing to address all outstanding issues with Pakistan bilaterally and through peaceful means but Islamabad’s continued support to terrorism has “prevented” the creation of “necessary environment”, MoS for External Affairs VK Singh said on Thursday.
India, he asserted, is committed to safeguarding national security, including through maintenance of credible minimum nuclear deterrent. “India is willing to address all outstanding bilateral issues with Pakistan through bilateral peaceful means. However, continued support by Pakistan to terrorism directed at us from the territory under Pakistan’s control has prevented creation of necessary environment,” he said. He added: “The government has urged Pakistan on several occasions to fulfil its assurances, given and reiterated at the highest level, to put an end to anti-India activities on its soil.”
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