United Opposition forces Ananth Kumar to withdraw remarks

An objectionable word used by Ananth Kumar in his reply was also expunged by the Chair after vociferous protest by the Opposition members.

A united Opposition in the Rajya Sabha on Friday forced Union Minister Ananth Kumar to withdraw his remarks in response to JD(U) MP K C Tyagi’s sarcastic comments on a BJP leader regarding recent ban on cow slaughter in Haryana and Maharashtra.

An objectionable word used by the Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers in his reply was also expunged by the Chair after vociferous protest by the Opposition members.

Tyagi made the comment on the BJP leader while debating agrarian crisis in the light of a farmer’s suicide at Jantar Mantar. However, Kumar objected to Tyagi’s comment after which Deputy Chairman P J Kurien offered to expunge Tyagi’s remark, but it was objected by JD(U) president Sharad Yadav.

Kumar again rose and said, “Other members and the government also has the same concern for farmers and you are not the only one.” Kumar also used an “objectionable word”, which was later expunged by the Speaker.

The use of an objectionable word united the Opposition in attacking the government. CPM’s Sitaram Yechury said: “It is not only a question of using a particular expression, but the word is against Parliament. We want the minister to withdraw the statement and issue an apology.”

BJP’s Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi tried to defend Kumar and said, “He did not mean anything like that.”

Soon, Kumar said, “When K C Tyagi was speaking, he made a direct reference to me. I will take back my statement.”

Source:: Indian Express