New Delhi: Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday hit out at the Opposition for bringing monkeys into Parliament and said they have crossed all limits.
His remarks came after several Opposition members, including Congress MPs Pawan Khera, Imran Pratapgarhi, and Jebi Mather, participated in a demonstration while raising slogans against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre. Khera led the protest holding a soft monkey toy.
Speaking to reporters, Giriraj Singh said, “I said this in the morning and I am saying it again: because of one arrogant and obstinate leader, the entire month has been turned into a joke. They (opposition) are bringing monkeys into Parliament. Is this a team of monkeys? Are they entertainers? The Congress should be ashamed of itself for stooping so low. No MP can be an entertainer, but they have crossed all limits by bringing monkeys into Parliament. They do not want Parliament to function.”
The Union Minister also added, “I said this in the morning, and I am saying it again: because of the arrogance and obstinacy of one person, and because of his misconceptions and delusions, hundreds of crores of rupees of public money have been wasted. The government has been saying for days that it is ready for a discussion. Home Minister Amit (Shah) has also said so. Therefore, there has to be a discussion. We need answers. This is not how democracy works. There will be answers only when there is a discussion.”
Reacting to a ‘shuddhikaran’ havan performed at the Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s rally, Giriraj Singh said, “Kharge ji has made an allegation. He is a senior leader and a respected leader, and we respect him. However, this allegation should not be viewed from that perspective. If there was dirt at the venue and it was cleaned, that is a different matter. But if they are interpreting it in some other way, then that is not right.”
Earlier on Thursday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the ‘shuddhikaran havan’ performed at Haldwani’s Ramlila Maidan following his rally, alleging that the incident reflected discrimination against Dalits and efforts to divide Hindu society.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Kharge, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said, “We have been saying all along that there is no space for Dalits in this country. People are being divided in the name of religion. What was the need for a havan there? Ramlila Maidan is a venue for public meetings and is used by all political parties. What they did was, first, against the spirit of Hindu religion itself, and second, an attempt to divide the country and create conflict among castes. This is an example of that, and I strongly condemn it.”
The controversy erupted after a purification ritual was reportedly conducted at the venue following Kharge’s public meeting in Haldwani.
Uttarakhand Congress Chief Ganesh Godiyal alleged that the right-wing group ‘Shri Ram Sena’, which organised the ‘shuddhikaran havan’ ceremony, was linked to the BJP. The ruling party, however, strongly denied the allegation.
