Parliament saw stormy scenes and vociferous agitations as the opposition confronted the government on a number of issues, including Minister of State in the HRD Ministry Ram Shankar Katheria’s remark following a VHP leader’s murder in Agra.
At a meeting attended by Katheria, several speakers allegedly made violent and inflammatory references to the Muslim community. Katheria was reported to have urged Hindus to ‘make ourselves powerful’ and to ‘launch a struggle.’
Facing ire over his alleged inflammatory speech warning Muslims of a ‘final battle’, Union Minister Katheria claimed he did not target any community.
“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 death sentence. I had also said that the Hindu community should unite for their safety. I will send a notice to the newspaper,” the Minister of State for HRD said.
Chaudhary Babulal, BJP MP from Fatehpur Sikri, who was one of the speakers at the meeting, said: “There will be aaar paar ki ladai (final battle) in 2017.”
“When Hindus are being murdered in front of everyone, what else can be done? The entire Hindu community will unite to fight such things. Badla nahi lengey toh kya aarti utaarengey aise logon ki? (Is we do not take revenge, should be worship them?),” said Babu Lal.
Katheria urged the gathering to unite and launch a struggle before another member of the community lost his life.
“We have to make ourselves powerful. We have to launch a struggle. If we don’t begin a struggle, then today we have lost an Arun, tomorrow we will lose another. Before another is lost, we must show such strength that these killers themselves disappear), Katheria is seen saying in the footage that has gone viral.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday said that the language in which the minister was speaking only suggested that he went to create a communal mayhem in Agra.
“Well I am not at all surprised. This has been a continuous, consistent and obnoxious behaviour of the ministers who are part of the Modi government. And I am pretty sure that no action would be taken against them,” said Owaisi.
“It is good that this government is being exposed about the real agenda that is to promote hindutva. And with the minister speaking in such a language, it really says that he went to Agra not to pay condolences but to create a communal mayhem over there,” he added.
One of the speakers also reportedly asked the gathering to “corner Muslims and destroy the demons (rakshas).”
BJP Fatehpur Sikri MP Babulal in same meeting said, “If you want to test Hindus, then let’s decide a date and take on Muslims.”
