Lok Sabha witnesses repeated adjournments over Tarun Vijay's remarks

The opposition led by the Congress party created pandemonium in the Lok Sabha on Monday demanding action against former BJP MP Tarun Vijay over his controversial remarks related to south Indians.

This forced Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to adjourn the House repeatedly in the pre-lunch session. After three brief adjournments, the House was adjourned till 1.50 p.m.

Soon after the House met for the day, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge urged the Speaker to allow him to raise the matter but she refused, saying the matter can be raised during Zero Hour.

After the permission was denied, the Congress members trooped near the Speaker's podium and started shouting slogans.

Amid the din Mahajan tried to conduct the Question Hour but after around 10 minutes she was forced to adjourn the House briefly till 11.20 a.m.

When the House re-assembled, Kharge again urged to raise the matter.

"This issue is very important and is not only related to South India but the whole nation," Kharge said.

The Speaker said she will allow him to raise the matter only during Zero Hour.

Later, raising the matter during Zero Hour Kharge demanded action against Vijay.

Responding to the matter, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the former Rajya Sabha MP has already apologised and there is no need to be agitated.

"This country can never never allow to differentiate on the basis of caste, creed and colour. Tarun Vijay has already said that his remarks are indefensible and has already apologised," Singh said.

Saying that attacks on Africans in India had nothing to do with racism, Tarun Vijay told Al Jazeera last week: "If we were racist, why would we have all the entire south... why do we live with them if we are racist. We have black people around us."

Later he apologized. "Feel bad, really feel sorry. My apologies to those who feel (what) I said was different than what I meant."

Not satisfied with the Minister's answers, the Congress members again trooped near the Speaker's podium.

Amid the din Mahajan adjourned the House till 12.45 p.m.

When the House reassembled, Kharge demanded action against Vijay.

"He is not an ordinary man. An FIR should be registered against him. His remarks are anti-national and divisive. A case of sedition should be filed against him," Kharge said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said that Vijay is neither a spokesperson of the BJP nor its General Secretary.

"There can't be racism. We all are united. We all are Indians," he said.

But not satisfied with this, the Congress members started shouting slogans and again trooped near the Speaker's podium.

Amid the din Mahajan adjourned the House till 1.50 p.m.

--IANS

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