Govt not acting against those making hate speeches: Oppn in RS

Opposition in Rajya Sabha today castigated the Narendra Modi government for neither condemning hate speeches, nor acting against those making them and said the ruling dispensation was actually an "RSS Government".
Speaking on the motion of thanks on the President's address, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said though the Prime Minister has stressed on tolerance and said the citizens have the right to pursue their faith, he has neither condemned, nor given any assurance that action would be taken against any person, who violates the law by making such speeches.
"The Prime Minister and BJP leaders are speaking differently on the issue of religious conversions," he said, adding that the "RSS government" had an "open agenda" of transforming secular, democratic Indian republic into a "fascist Hindu nation".

"Philosophy is being replaced by theology and history is replaced by mythology," Yechury said while also citing Modi's speech on the existence of plastic surgery in India in the ancient times.
Warning that emphasis on uniformity would adversely affect national unity, he said equality must be ensured as mere tolerance was "not just enough". "But, there is no mention of equality, that all will be treated as equals."
Taking a dig at the government for its 'Make in India' initiative, the CPI(M) leader said some foreign companies have shut down at a time when the government was pushing for it and referred to the closure of the Nokia manufacturing unit near Chennai.

Referring to a remark by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that no scam had taken place in nine months of the current government, Yechury said "it will be reflected later as what was cooking under UPA-I came out during UPA-II regime and what is cooking now, you will know later."
On land acquisition bill, he said that BJP had opposed it when the party was in the opposition and the net result is that the country is losing.
BJD member A V Singh Deo also targetted the Prime Minister for not criticising RSS-BJP leaders' statements on the issue of religious conversions.