Raising minister minister Niranjan Jyoti's rural background, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday appealed to opposition members in Lok Sabha to be 'magnanimous' and accept her apology, but failed to break the deadlock in Parliament.
A united Opposition stalled proceedings in both houses for the fourth day in a row demanding that minister Jyoti be fired over her remarks, forcing several adjournments.
Conceding to Opposition demands, Modi made a statement in Lok Sabha requesting members to accept Jyoti's apology and let Parliament function in the best interests of the nation.
"The minister has apologised, she is new and we are also aware of her social background. She comes from a village," Modi said.
"It is the duty of the distinguished members of the House that when a colleague seeks apology, we should be magnanimous," he said.
"... it is our duty that we understand our limits in public life and stay within our limits while making public discourse. Now we should allow the matter to rest and we should continue with our work in national interest," Modi said.
Stating that Rajya Sabha has not been functioning for some time now, Modi said, "I am grateful to all members of Lok Sabha that they allowed the House to function despite the sensitivity of the issue."
Even before the Parliament took up the issue, Modi said he had expressed his disapproval and sternly asked BJP MPs against using such words.
"Nobody can approve such things," he said.
Modi had made a similar statement in Rajya Sabha on Thursday strongly criticising Jyoti for her controversial remarks made at a campaign rally in Delhi.
Black bands
The Prime Minister's statement, however, failed to mollify the opposition members, including Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who tied black cloth on their mouths, as they staged a walkout.
After Modi's statement, leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge said the opposition wanted to know why such a thing happened.
"We are not against any individual" nor their background but the issue is that many BJP leaders have been making controversial statements, he said.
Such statements are creating a situation in the country where social unity is threatened, he said and wanted to know what action government is taking in this regard.
While opposition members continued to agitate after the Prime Minister's statement, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the protests have to stop.
E Ahamed of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) was heard saying the government was not listening to the opposition.
Soon, members from Congress, Left parties, IUML, BSP and AAP staged a walk out.
Even outside Parliament House Rahul Gandhi, along with other members of the opposition, protested against the government, saying that "democratic process" was not being allowed inside Parliament.
The protesters demanded Jyoti's resignation over her unparliamentary language at a rally and tied black scarves around their mouths during the protest.
"The attitude of the government is not to allow democratic process inside the house," said Gandhi.
"...it is a mindset of the top leadership of the country that democratic conversation should not be allowed inside the house...We are going to fight at every inch," he added.
"We are being stopped and suppressed...," he said.
The members were also seen carrying banners reading "Protect secularism and democracy: We want united India" and "Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti Resign".
BJP's Tarun Vijay tried to play the Dalit card, but it was quickly shot down by BSP's Mayawati who said Jyoti is from a backward caste and not Dalit.
Unrelenting opposition in Rajya Sabha
In Rajya Sabha too Congress and other opposition parties disrupted proceedings demanding action against Jyoti forcing its adjournment.
Immediately after railway minister Suresh Pradhu took oath, the entire opposition was on its feet raising the issue.
Barely had the listed papers been laid, slogan shouting members rushed into the Well.
"Mantri to barkhast karo (sack the minister)," they shouted.
Deputy chairman PJ Kurien took up Zero Hour mentions even as there was no relenting in slogan shouting.
Congress' Anand Sharma said the opposition benches patiently heard Modi's statement on the issue on Thursday but want to know about the government's action taken against the minister.
"It is for you and the government to sit together and come to a conclusion. What can I do?" Kurien said.
"If the members don't want the House to run, what can Chair do?"
Treasury benches protested saying the minister has already expressed apologies and Prime Minister made statement disapproving of the comments and so the House should resume its normal functioning.
Minister of state for parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said Congress was stalling business of national importance despite Jyoti expressing regret.
With opposition members unrelenting, Kurien adjourned the House till 12pm.
Jyoti, minister of state for food processing industries, had apologised in Parliament on Tuesday, reportedly on the orders of the Prime Minister, but opposition parties like the Left want her sacked and say she must face criminal charges for trying to incite communal hatred.
"The people of Delhi have to decide if they want a government of Ramzaadon (descendants of Ram) or haramzaadon (those who are illegitimately born)," Jyoti had reportedly had said at a public meeting in Delhi on Monday.
(With agency inputs)
Video: Modi pacifies opposition in Lok Sabha over Niranjan Jyoti’s hate speech
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