A Shiv Sena MP, who was seen in a video clip trying to force food into the mouth of a Muslim staffer of Maharashtra Sadan who was observing the Ramadan fast, kicked off a political storm Wednesday, with parliament in uproar.
While the Congress targeted the Narendra Modi government for the act, which they described as a "crime against secularism", the government first refused to comment on the issue as it involved a key ally, but seeing an angry opposition, offered
to probe the matter.
Shiv Sena MP Rajan Vichare, who was in the midst of the controversy, defended his action, saying he had no idea about the man's religion - even though he had his
name badge on.
His party chief Uddhav Thackeray decried attempts to 'communalise' the issue and attempted to play it down by describing it as a "trivial" matter.
Though all BJP leaders and ministers, including union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, refused to comment on the matter, party patriarch L.K. Advani just said "this is
wrong."
But the opposition was unrelenting. Vichare's action had hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslims, MP after MP said.
The Congress, which was on a back foot for the past two days following Press Council of India chief Justice Markandey Katju's allegation of corruption in judicial
appointments during the Manmohan Singh government's tenure, lapped up the opportunity to hit out at the Modi government.
The Congress slammed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government both inside and outside parliament.
In the Rajya Sabha, opposition members disrupted the proceedings of the house after the question hour, forcing Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien to adjourn the house for 10 minutes.
The issue was later raised again by Ali Anwar Ansari of the Janata Dal-United in the zero hour, who called it an insult to Indian culture and social tolerance.
Responding to the members, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Prakash Javadekar said that government will probe the facts.
"These are unsubstantiated reports. We should not take it to the next level. Let us understand what exactly happened," Javadekar said.
Kurien then instructed the government to "ascertain the facts and come back to the house".
The issue was also raised in the Lok Sabha during the zero hour by Congress MP from Wayanad in Kerala, M.I. Shanavas.
"The MPs who have to be a role model have done this. This house should condemn this," he said.
However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said no comments should be made on the issue as the facts of the incidents had not been established yet.
"Whatever has to be done, the government will do," he added.
There was however huge pandemonium when Shiv Sena MP and union Heavy Industry Minister Anant Geete said no such incident took place at the Maharashtra Sadan.
But soon television channels started flashing a video clip shot by a local channel, which clearly showed that the first time MP Vichare was trying to force a chapatti into the staffer's mouth.
The staffer was seen pleading with the MPs who were angry over the poor quality of food served at the state guest house.
Vichare and some other Shiv Sena MPs are residing at the New Maharashtra Sadan in
central Delhi during their stay in the capital.
When Vichare was forcing the food into the Muslim staffer's mouth, other Shiv Sena
MPs watched quietly, the video clipping showed.
In the Lok Sabha too members from almost all parties trooped near Speaker Sumitra
Mahajan's podium forcing her to adjourn the house for 15 minutes.
When the house reassembled, BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri was made to apologize for his
conduct.
Outside Parliament House, Congress criticised the Shiv Sena MPs behaviour.
Congress leader M. Veerappa Moily said the incident was the "biggest crime against
secularism in the country."
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the incident
obstructed an individual's right to practice his religion, which is guaranteed
under the constitution.
"This is against the very basic tenets of the constitution of India which provides
freedom to every individual to preach or practice his religion," Azad added.
As the incident snowballed into a major controversy, Uddhav Thackeray in
Aurangabad said: "We may have a Hindutva agenda, but we shall never play with the
religious sentiments of any community."
Party spokesperson Sanjay Raut said that these people who are trying to put a
communal colour on the incident "have lost their mental balance".
MP Asaduddin Owaisi said: "I am not surprised with the Shiv Sena MP's behavior.
The question is that even if the employee named Arshad was not a Muslim, he should
not have been treated this way".
"This is unbecoming," said the chief of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen.
"The Maharastra resident commissioner should register a complaint against the MPs.
After all forcefully breaking the fast of a Muslim is hurting his religious
sentiments," Owaisi added.
