New Delhi, July 1 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s “Hindu” remark on Monday led to ruckus, inviting sharp criticism from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who called it a “serious matter.”
Speaking during the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address, Gandhi said, “In the history of Hindustan, there are three foundational ideas. Modiji in one of his speeches had said that Hindustan had never attacked anybody. There is a reason, as this country is non-violent by nature. All our great men have always spoken and practised non-violence seeking to bring an end to fear.”
Invoking Lord Shiva, Gandhi said, even the Destroyer among the Trimurti has never used his trident for violence but only the Abhay Mudra (Benevolence).
The Rae Bareli MP said: “However, those who identify themselves as Hindus only talk about violence, hatred and untruth. Aap Hindu ho hi nahi… (You are not Hindus).”
To this Speaker Om Birla said, “You are Leader of Opposition. Nobody’s sentiments must be hurt.”
Objecting to Gandhi’s remark, Prime Minister Modi stood up and said, “Calling the entire Hindu community violent is very serious.”
Gandhi then said, “Modi ji does not represent the entire Hindu society, BJP does not represent the Hindu society and RSS does not represent the Hindu society.”
Objecting to Gandhi’s statement, Union Minister Bhupinder Yadav said that the LoP was addressing the House for the first time and he read out two rules. He said that the LoP should know how to address the House.
Home Minister Amit Shah too objected to Gandhi’s statement and said that the Leader of Opposition was talking about violence and it was wrong for a person holding a Constitutional post to link violence with any particular religion and demanded that the LoP should apologise to the entire country.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey also demanded an apology from Gandhi saying that Constitution does not allow anyone to attack any religion.
Amidst the uproar, Speaker Om Birla said that the dignity of the House has to be maintained hence dignified words should only be used while speaking.
Gandhi said, “Hindus never indulge in hatred and violence, but BJP is spreading fear all the time and promoting violence and hatred.”
The LoP also attacked PM Modi and said that Modi’s soul is divine. He came to know about Gandhiji from the film Gandhi.
On Agniveer scheme, Rahul Gandhi said that this was brought without consulting anyone and when their government will be formed, this scheme will be scrapped.
He said that an Agniveer soldier lost his life in a landmine blast but he was not called a martyr.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh objected and said that the LoP was misleading the House by making false statement. Adding that the family of any Agniveer soldier who is martyred in the line of service, gets Rs one crore.
Gandhi also attacked the Government on rising unemployment, paper leaks and farm distress.
