Naidu backs Niranjan Jyoti, says she'll continue to campaign for BJP

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Friday hit back at the Congress Party for disrupting parliamentary proceedings over the alleged hate speech controversy surrounding Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, saying she would continue to campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi.

Naidu alleged that the opposition parties are targeting the first-time Member of Parliament because they are afraid that she is influencing the people in a big way in Uttar Pradesh.

"They want to make it a big issue...... It's a human error, to accept the mistake is noble and to forgive is divine, this is what has been said by all the people," he added.

Asserting that this issue should be brought to an end, Naidu further said the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries has realized her mistake and apologized for the same.

"What else you need? I am not able to understand what is the demand of the opposition? They go on changing their stand, we cannot oblige them. There is no question on that issue, it's over and closed," he added.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister categorically said that Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti has not been barred from campaigning for the saffron party in Delhi following the political storm over her contentious speech.

Naidu said that she would campaign as and when required.

"No cancellation has been made. And all other leaders will also campaign in their rallies. There is no question of cancelling (the rallies)," he added.

Asserting that the government is ready to discuss and hold debate on any issue in the Parliament, Naidu alleged that the Congress is disrupting the parliamentary business for publicity.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the members in the Lok Sabha to allow the House to function.

The Prime Minister, who was making a statement in the Lok Sabha on Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti's controversial remarks, said that she has already apologized.

Asserting that the minister is a first-time member and comes from a rural background, Prime Minister Modi further said the House should allow the matter to rest now as she has already apologized.

Earlier, the opposition members belonging to Congress, Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress staged a walk out demanding the sacking of Niranjan Jyoti. The agitating members also tied black clothes around their mouths in protest.