Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma was in the midst of a fresh row as his remark that Mulayam Singh Yadav had terrorist links paralysed Parliament, forcing government to express regret and condemn the utterances.
Verma stirred a hornet's nest by the remark in Lok Sabha when SP members had stormed the Well demanding an apology and removal of the Steel Minister for his alleged statement that all Muslims are terrorists.
The Minister immediately clarified that he had not made any such statement and so there was no question of an apology. "Where is the proof that I have said such a thing? I did not link terrorism to any religion."
As SP members continued to raise slogans from the Well, Verma virtually added fuel to the fire saying, "For me, terrorism has no religion, no colour. The demolition of Babri Masjid and the post-Godhra riots are also terrorist incidents.
"But he (Mulayam) joined hands with those who demolished Babri Masjid, like Kalyan Singh. His party also helped BJP to win in Gujarat," the Minister said.
This triggered fresh protests in the Lok Sabha which saw three adjournments earlier before the House was adjourned for the day. The Rajya Sabha also witnessed one adjournment before the Chair called it a day.
With an angry Yadav demanding that he be put behind bars or the Minister should be sacked, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath expressed regret over Verma's remarks.
Seeking to mollify the SP chief whose party is key outside supporter with 22 members in the Lok Sabha, Nath said Yadav is not "an ordinary member" and "he is leader of his party."
"I wish to say the honourable member is not an ordinary member. He is the leader of his party. His stature and his place is not like an ordinary member. I respect the feeling.
"The observation that has been made, I regret. I would only like to say such allegations, observations. It is not the question of whether you belong to ruling party or opposition ...We condemn this...All of us condemn this," he said.
Verma was not present when Nath expressed regret and disapproved of his conduct.
