AMN /
Taking part in discussion in Lok Sabha on the outcry of intolerance in the country today, CPI (M) MP Mohammad Salim today accused Home Minister Rajnath Singh of having said about Narendra Modi’s ascent to power as “a Hindu had come to power after 800 years”.
Quoting from a magazine, Mr Salim said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the first Hindu leader heading the government at the Centre after hundreds of years.
Home Minister took serious exception saying that he had not made any such remark. He said, he is deeply hurt by the allegation and asked the member to apologise to the House.
Mr. Singh took objection to the statement, made in the Lok Sabha, and challenged Mr. Salim to either prove that he had said so or apologise.
“In my parliamentary career, I am hurt for the first time. This is a serious allegation. I think no home minister should continue after making such a comment,” he said.
Mr. Singh added that he never made loose comments and was always very particular about what he said.
Mr. Salim, however, said that he was quoting from a news magazine and if it was not true, Mr. Singh must send a legal notice to the media house.
Rajnath seeks suggestions
The Home Minister said the government will seek suggestions from MPs on the ‘growing intolerance’ in the country.
“We would like to have suggestions on how to stop it, from members who think intolerance is growing,” he said in the Lok Sabha, adding the government felt there was no such problem.
Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, while participating in a debate in the Rajya Sabha, said there was “some amount” of intolerance in the society which has to be identified and dealt with firmly, instead of generalising it.
Without referring to any particular incident, Mr. Naidu said people making out of turn statements should be condemned, isolated and disowned.