Giriraj Singh's racist remark against Sonia Gandhi sparks row

Nigerian High Commission demands apology from minister

Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Giriraj Singh’s comments on Congress President Sonia Gandhi have triggered outrage, with the Congress party demanding his removal from the council of ministers.

Singh had said in Patna on Tuesday: “Had Rajiv Gandhi married a Nigerian woman and if she was not a white-skinned woman, would the Congress have accepted her leadership?”

Taking strong objection, the Nigerian high commission has demanded an apology for the “unacceptable” comments.

Congress media in-charge Randeep Surjewala lashed out saying, “The Congress deprecates and condemns the intemperate and distasteful remarks of Union minister Giriraj Singh, bordering on insanity... Prime Minister must dismiss such a minister and apologise to the nation.”

The party’s women’s wing will be holding a protest and dharna in front of the BJP headquarters on Ashoka Road on Thursday.   

Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria O B Okongor said a complaint might be filed with the external affairs ministry, as Singh's comments were in "very bad taste”. “We expect the minister to withdraw the comments and apologise to the Nigerian people. We will notify our government about the issue,” he said.

Gandhi’s son-in-law, Robert Vadra, took to social media to lash out at Singh. “Appalled to read the comments by a Union minister on the Congress president/my mother-in-law. A woman of immense dignity.” “Is this the way we speak about a lady, who has undergone hardships all through her life and has lost her loved ones for the nation (sic),” Vadra said on Facebook.