Selja row: Congress disrupts RS, seeks Modi's apology

Congress members on Wednesday forced three adjournments of the Rajya Sabha, protesting the statements of union ministers Arun Jaitley and Piyush Goyal disputing the version of former minister Kumari Selja that she was asked about her caste in a Gujarat temple.

The Congress members trooped into the Well, raising slogans, forcing three adjournments -- the first time for 10 minutes, then till noon and thereafter again till 2 pm, alleging that the government's statements disputing Selja's remarks were 'misleading'.

Selja had created a stir during the debate on commitment to the Constitution on Monday claiming that she was asked about her caste when she had visited a temple in Dwarka town of Gujarat as a minister during the United Progressive Alliance rule.

As soon as the House met and took up the Zero Hour on Wednesday, leader of the House Arun Jaitley referred to the issue and said that 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.

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," she said.

Selja also said that she was very happy visiting the main temple where she was treated well and had 'a very good darshan'.

Congress members were on their feet and so were some from the treasury benches, as Selja said the ministers should have 'some grace'.

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.

As slogan shouting continued, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien tried to pacify the protestors. As his pleas went unheeded, he adjourned the House for 10 minutes.

When the House reassembled, there were similar scenes and Kurien again adjourned the proceedings till 12 noon.

When the House met at noon, Congress members again trooped into the Well, raising slogans, as Chairman Hamid Ansari’s pleas for order in the House to allow the Question Hour went unheeded.

"You have to grant us protection," Selja told the chairman as she and other Congress members raised slogans – ‘Samvidhaan ka apmaan, band karo, band karo’ (Stop insulting the Constitution).

Amid the uproar, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi again read out Selja's written statement at the main Dwarka temple earlier, complimenting the authorities there for arrangements. But it was inaudible in the din.

As the uproar continued, Ansari adjourned the House till 2 pm.

When the House reassembled at 2 pm, Congress members led by Selja, protesting the remarks made by Goyal, trooped into the Well again and raising slogans against the government.

The protesting members shouted ‘Narendra Modi maafi maango’ (Modi apologise) forcing adjournment of the House for 15 minutes.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien, who was visibly upset, later called in Jaitley, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and leaders of other parties besides Selja into the chamber in a bid to resolve the impasse.

Naqvi had suggested that if the mention of Dwarka temple is expunged, then any remarks made that upset Selja should also be expunged.

Communist Party of India-Marxist 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 Trinamool Congress' 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 added that 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 mistake.

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the comments made from the treasury bench should not have been made. The remarks from the treasury benches have 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 recognising the seriousness of the issue, a solution has to be found. “I leave it to the Chair to find a solution,” he added.

Janata Dal-United 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’.

Meanwhile, reacting to Selja's statement in the Rajya Sabha, Bharatiya Janata Party MP and vice chairman of the Dwarkadheesh Devsthan Samiti Parimal Nathwani said he was 'astonished' at the remarks as she had then praised the temple authorities for its management and seemed to be happy.

Nathwani said the former Congress minister, during her visit to Dwarka temple in 2013, had mentioned about the cleanliness and maintenance of the temple premises in the visitors book.

"Kumari Selja, during her visit on February 22, 2013, had written in the visitors book that with Lord Krishna's blessing they had a very good 'darshan' and maintenance of the premises was excellent. It reflects that she was happy and appreciated the temple authorities," Nathwani said.

He also said that there was nothing ‘humiliating’ in being asked about caste as it is 'customary' practice at Hindu temples or shrines.

"With due respect to her, I would state that there is nothing humiliating in Tirth Panda asking devotees about their 'Gotra' (family root). This is a normal practice at all major Hindu shrines and pilgrim places," he said.

Image: Congress MP Kumari Selja speaks in Rajya Sabha during the winter session of Parliament in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo