April 20, 2024 04:42 (IST)
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Bhatwat's remark on Mother Teresa forces RS adjournment
New Delhi, Feb 26(IBNS) Acrimony ran high in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday as the opposition went fiery against RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's controversial remarks on Mother Teresa, forcing adjournment of the upper house for 15 minutes.
Members of the Congress, Samajwadi Party and Janta Daul(United) trooped into the well while those of the Trinamool Congress and the Left also joined the uproar protesting Bhagwat's comment on conversion to Christianity.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Derek O'Brien of Trinamool Congress said Bhagwat's comment that conversion to Christianity was the main objective of Mother Teresa's service to the poor, was an "insult" to all Bharat Ratna recipients.
"Only 43 persons since Independence have .since Independence have been conferred the Bharat Ratna. One of them is Mother Teresa. The comment not only insults her. Statements like this insult all the 43 persons who got Bharat Ratna," he said.
"The man who made the statement, says she converts. Mother Teresa also said that she converts a Hindu to become a good Hindu, a Muslim to become a good Muslim and a Christian to become a good Christian," O'Brien said.
At this, BJP member Vinay Katiyar engaged himself into a verbal duel with O'Brien by making some comments and thereby inviting a united opposition assault. This prompted other members of the treasury bench to join the altercation.
CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury asked Deputy Chairman P J Kurien who was in the chair,
"How are you allowing this to go on record."
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who tried to placate the agitated opposition members, said the entire country respected the Mother and there was no suspicion about the service she rendered to society.
"The entire country respects her... There is no doubt about the Mother Teresa's service and her work is not under any kind of suspicion," he said.
But making it clear that the minister's utterance was not enough, JD(U) member Sharad Yadav demanded a resolution condemning Bhagwat's remarks. He was supported by SP and CPI(M) members.
As the uproar refused to die down with several opposition members shouting at the top of their voice, Kurien adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
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