Govt, oppn clash in RS over Selja's remarks about Guj temple

Rajya Sabha today saw uproar and repeated adjournments after Ministers Arun Jaitley and Piyush Goyal disputed the version of Congress member Kumari Selja that she had faced discrimination because of her caste in a temple in Gujarat a few years back.
To counter Selja, who had made the claim in the House on Monday while participating in a debate on the Constitution, Jaitley produced a page of the visitors' book of Dwarkadheesh temple in which she had lauded the "excellent" arrangements.
The House remained deadlocked over the issue for most part of the day with the Congress, supported by some other opposition parties, insisting that the ruling side should withdraw the comments made against Selja and apologise.

As Congress members shouted slogans against the government and disrupted proceedings, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien called leaders of various parties to his chamber to find a solution after adjourning the House for some time. Those who attended the meeting included Jaitley, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and leaders of some other parties besides Selja.
However, no solution emerged and the matter was put off till tomorrow as the House wanted to take up the issue of Tamil Nadu floods on urgent basis.
As soon as the House met for the day at 11 am, Jaitley, Finance Minister and Leader of the House, referred to the issue and said Selja had, in fact, said very "complimentary words" during her visit to the Dwarka temple in February 2013.

He said Selja had also written positive things about her experience at the temple and there was no complaint.

He also read out Selja's written comments at the temple which said, "With Lord Krishna's blessings, had a very good darshan. The upkeep and maintenance of the premises is excellent. May the Lord bless all those who are fortunate enough to come here for his blessings." The remarks were written on February 22, 2013.
To this, Selja said she was not referring to the main Dwarka temple, but 'Bet Dwarka'. "Please don't try to mislead the House. That day, I had made it very clear that it was 'Bet Dwarka' and not the main Dwarka (temple). Please don't do this, Leader of the House. It doesn't behove."

Selja said she was very happy visiting the main temple where she was treated well and had "a very good 'darshan'".
As arguments ensued, Power Minister Piyush Goyal chipped
in to say that Congress members were trying to create "manufactured problems" and "manufactured discrimination".
His comment further agitated Congress members who, led by Selja, rushed to the Well and shouted slogans.
Kurien tried to pacify the protestors. As his pleas went unheeded, he adjourned the House for 10 minutes.
When the House re-assembled, there were similar scenes and Kurien again adjourned the proceedings till 12 noon. The House was then adjourned till 2 PM and again repeatedly after brief intervals.

The situation continued till 3.30 pm when it was decided that a solution would be explored tomorrow and meanwhile, the House should take up discussion on Tamil Nadu floods.
When the House re-assembled at 2 PM, Congress members led by Selja were in the Well, shouting "Narendra Modi maafi mango (Modi apologise) and Narendra Modi hai hai", forcing adjournment for 15 minutes.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said if the mention of Dwarka temple is expunged, then any remarks made that upset Selja should also be expunged.
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said "Goyal made a statement which was totally uncalled for. This was almost like calling her (Selja) a liar..."

"But this is a self goal. Leader of the House made a statement and the matter should have ended there. Why cast aspersions and call her names," he asked, adding that the House should be discussing issue of flooding in Tamil Nadu.
Yechury said Goyal must withdraw what he said, apologise and everyone can move forward.
The CPI(M) leader found support from TMC's Derek O'Brien who said the issue should not be "over cooked" and one should apologise and move on to discuss Tamil Nadu floods.
However, as the Congress members continued slogan- shouting, Kurien lost his cool and said, "are you shouting at me? Why are you not letting the Chair speak? This kind of attitude and behaviour is not nice."

Kurien said he agreed that there was a "problem" and that Selja is aggrieved but a solution has to be found.
Initially refusing to adjourn, Kurien said every member is a human and sometimes humans commit mistakes.
Azad said the comments made from the treasury benches should not have been made. The remarks from the treasury benches has complicated the issue, he added.
Azad assured the Chair that when the time for discussion on Tamil Nadu flood is fixed, his party would participate. He said that while recognizing the seriousness of the issue, a solution has to be found. "I leave it to the Chair to find a solution," he added.

JD(U) leader K C Tyagi chipped in and said that till Selja, a senior member of the House and a woman, is not satisfied, no solution can be found. He accused the government of "manufacturing intolerance".