NEW DELHI: Upping the ante over the controversial ‘Hindu Rashtra’ remarks by Goa Cooperation Minister Pandurang Deepak Dhavalikar and then by Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza, the Congress said it would take up the statements of the two ministers when Parliament assembles after a four-day break.
The Congress sources said the remarks are a deliberate attempt at disturbing the communal harmony just when Muslims are towards end of Ramzan month of fasting.
The Deputy Chief Minister had ignited a fresh controversy on Friday by declaring “India is a Hindu nation and one does not have to create India into a Hindu nation… India was and is a Hindu nation, there is no doubt about that”.
Earlier, Dhavalikar had raked up the row saying, “I am confident that under the leadership of Modiji, India will develop into a Hindu nation and the PM will work in this regard…”
The Congress has also decided to focus on the communal violence and increasing attacks on women in different parts of the country in both the Houses of Parliament. The communal violence in Saharanpur and alleged involvement of the BJP leaders in flaring up the situation is seen by the party as a systematic design of the saffron party for polarisation.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday condemned the communal violence in Saharanpur, saying he was deeply saddened to learn about the clashes in the UP town.
“Violence, divisiveness and hatred have no place in our country. This politics of hatred must end. I appeal to every one to remain calm and refrain from fanning communal passions,” he said in a short statement.
Congress, meanwhile, termed the opinion of Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi as ‘politically motivated’ and one to ‘please his political masters’ that the party had no claim to the post of Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha and said it will “fight it out” to get the post.
“The advice of the AG seems to be politically motivated. The Leader of Opposition post is our party’s right. We shall take whatever necessary steps that are to be taken. We will fight it out with whatever options are necessary,” Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh told PTI.
He said the times have changed and Leader of Opposition was much required for making fair appointments and Congress cannot allow BJP alone to make key appointments of its own. The party, Singh said, would meet shortly to carve its strategy on the issue.
“The AG’s opinion is not worth the paper on which it is written. It is unfortunate that the AG has given an opinion to please his political masters. The AG is just providing an apology for the blatantly partisan approach of a confrontational government,” Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma told reporters here.
He said, “I do not know to which law the AG has referred with regard to the LoP. The AG is expected to have a better understanding of law and statutes not to give such an opinion, which belittles his office.”
Dealing a blow to Congress’s bid to secure the LoP’s post, the AG has opined that the party has no case for claiming the same. There is no precedence to back its case since the days of the first Lok Sabha, the AG has said, while conveying his views to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan who had sought his opinion on the matter.
Sharma accused the government of “trying to pressurise” Mahajan on the LoP issue even as he urged her to take a “fair” decision in the matter.
