Ruling out resignation of Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti for her controversial remarks, the government on Wednesday came down heavily on opposition for disrupting Parliament accusing it of ‘authoritarianism’.
"The question does not arise at all. There is no question of the minister resigning," Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told mediapersons outside Parliament. "Let the Congress remember what they have done with regard to former UPA minister Beni Prasad Varma. What is the language they have used against former prime minister," Naidu said.
He was referring to an incident during United Progressive Alliance rule when Verma had allegedly made derogatory comments against Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and former prime minister A B Vajpayee which led the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to apologise in the House as the minister had refused to do so.
"Verma, a minister in the UPA government, made irresponsible, obnoxious, very indecent remarks against different people...against Mulayam Singhji, against Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji," Naidu said, adding the senior leader had not apologised for his remarks.
Naidu also reminded the protesting Trinamool Congress members of Parliament about the reported remarks of party MP Tapas Pal at a public meeting where he had allegedly threatened Communist Party of India-Marxist cadres and their family members with rape and violence.
Reacting to opposition's slogan that ‘tanashahi nahin chalegi’ (authoritarianism will not be allowed), Naidu said it was opposition party MPs who were trying to impose their dictum in the House.
"They are saying authoritarianism will not be allowed. I am also saying authoritarianism will not be allowed....they are creating trouble in the House," the minister said. Naidu said the opposition's demand for Niranjan's resignation was ‘meaningless’.
"If a member has said something objectionable and has expressed regret and apologised, the issue ends there. This is Parliamentary tradition," he said.
Naidu said Niranjan is a first time MP, a simple woman from a very humble background.
"She said something...whatever she said was objectionable. The opposition is saying that her statement was criminal...the criminal action was required in what was said by Varma," he said.
