With the government coming under fire over the apparent silence of the Prime Minister on incidents of hate crimes against Indians in the United States, Union Home minister Rajnath Singh today said in Lok Sabha that the government had taken a serious view of the incidents and that it will be making a statement in the Parliament on the matter next week.
The past few weeks have seen at least two Indians – one engineer and the other a businessman -- killed in incidents of alleged hate crime in the US.
With opposition members raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Singh said the government has taken serious note of the issue.
“What is happening in the US is being viewed seriously by the government and a statement would be made in the Parliament next week,” he said during Question Hour.
Parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar also said the government was very much concerned about the incidents in the US.
As soon as the proceedings began after obituary references were made on the passing away of four former members, opposition members raised various issues, including those related to hate crimes against Indians in the US.
The Congress targeted PM Narendra Modi questioning his silence on the issue. “PM tweets on every other issue, why doesn't he talk on this issue? Why silent? He should make statement today,” Congress leader Mllikarjun Kharge said in the Lok Sabha.
“Such incidents (on attacks on Indians in USA) have increased after the new US President has taken charge,” he added.
AIADMK members wanted to raise the issue of Sri Lankan Navy firing at Tamil fishermen. They raised slogans and trooped into the Well of the House.
The members went back after Speaker Sumitra Mahajan assured that they could raise the issuer during Zero Hour.
As a mark of respect to the departed members including former Lok Sabha Speaker Rabi Ray, the House stood in silence for a brief while.
Other former members who passed away were Jambuwant Dhote, P Shiv Shanker and Syed Shahabuddin.
(With PTI inputs)
