Modi seeks truce over hate remark

Congress MPs, led by party vice president Rahul Gandhi during a protest at the Parliament House in New Delhi yesterday. Photo: The Hindu

India's Congress leader Rahul Gandhi yesterday joined a protest inside parliament premises against the hate speech by a federal minister targeting religious minorities.
Rahul, Congress party vice president, joined opposition members who had black clothes thrown across their mouths demanding junior minister Niranjan Jyoti's dismissal.
Jyoti at a rally here on Monday said that people would have to decide whether they wanted a government run by 'ramzyada' (the children of Ram) or 'haramzyada' (illegitimate children). Such comments were seen as an attack on minorities.
"We are not allowed to speak inside the House. It is the mindset of the top leaders of the country that democratic conversation should not be allowed," the 44-year-old Rahul said.
He and other MPs kept the black bands on inside the Lok Sabha where Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the political parties to accept Jyoti's apology and get on with work. "When one of our colleagues asks for forgiveness, we should show generosity," Modi said.
The House was adjourned within minutes as the opposition insisted that an apology was not enough and chanted slogans demanding the minister's removal.
Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha, the upper House of Indian parliament have remained paralysed by the opposition protesting Jyoti utterances.
"This minister is new and from rural background, she has entered parliament for the first time (at the last election)... She has apologised," Modi said in the Lok Sabha yesterday adding: “I request the House to continue with its work in the interests of the country.”
Jyoti, 47, is a first-time lawmaker from northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
Ignoring the appeal to get back to work, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury had said "an apology means admission of guilt, and in this case the Constitution has been violated. How can she remain a minister?"
The opposition has said it suspects political motives behind Jyoti's remarks to try and polarise votes along religious lines.
Jyoti, minister for food processing industry, made her comment at a rally in New Delhi where local elections are likely to be held early next year.