New Delhi: The opposition on Friday demanded sacking of union minister V.K. Singh, a retired army chief, for his comments over the killing of two Dalit children in Haryana, forcing three brief adjournments in the Rajya Sabha in the pre-lunch session.
Soon after the house met at noon after two brief adjournments, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said that V.K. Singh should not only be removed from the ministry, but also from parliament.
"He has compared the killing of two Dalit children with dogs. He can't remain minister in the union cabinet and even a member of parliament," Azad said.
The Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) member trooped into the well of the house shouting slogans like "V.K. Singh murdabad" and "Danga, fasado ki sarkar nahi chalegi (A government that causes riots, violence can't work)".
Amid the din, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, "They (opposition) are trying to make an issue of non-issue. Only to gain political score, they are raising this issue."
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Chairman Hamid Ansari tried to run the house but the Congress and BSP members kept shouting slogans against the minister.
He then adjourned the house till 1 p.m.
Asked to comment on two Dalit children being burnt to death in Haryana's Faridabad, adjoining Delhi, Gen. Singh had said it was a local incident and as it happens, that even if a stone is thrown at a dog, the central government is held responsible. The remark was widely criticised.
Earlier, when the house met for the day, BSP leader Mayawati was on her feet.
"Ever since the BJP-led NDA government has come in at the Centre, in the nation, social and communal atmosphere is being disturbed," the BSP leader said.
"Sadly, instead of taking action against such people, the government is protecting them. Yesterday, the attitude of government on V.K. Singh was very sad," she said.
Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said he did not have a notice on the issue from the member and asked her to submit a notice.
Amidst the din, the house was adjourned for 15 minutes.
When the house reassembled at 11.30 a.m., the BSP members again raised the issue of V.K. Singh, and Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ramgopal Yadav raised the issue of Mohan Bhagwat's remarks on the Ram temple and demanded action against him for spreading communal tension.
"The statement on Ram temple by RSS chief (Bhagwat) will divide the country even though the case is pending before the Supreme Court."
The BSP and SP members trooped into the well, raising slogans against V.K. Singh and Bhagwat.
Naqvi said talking about construction of the temple is everybody's right.
Some Congress members also walked up to the well in support of the Samajwadi Party's demand.
The house was adjourned till noon.
