BJP, JD(U) stall Parliament over Dikshit doing a Bal Thackeray

NEW DELHI: Ms Sheila Dikshit’s alleged derogatory remarks against migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh on Thursday threatened to snowball into a major controversy with the BJP-JD(U) combine and the Samajwadi Party disrupting proceedings in the Lok Sabha in support of their demand for the Delhi chief minister’s resignation.

Sensing the mood among its support-base, the RJD, one of closest allies of the Congress, too joined in the protests, but had chastened down by the end of the day. Put on the back-foot by the ferocity of the protests, the Manmohan Singh summoned reacted with alacrity, and summoned the chief minister. Ms Dikshit met external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee and parliamentary affairs minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi to explain her side of the story.

With elections to the Delhi assembly scheduled to be held late next year, the Congress leadership has reasons to be worried over the fall-out of Ms Dikshit’s remarks. Poorvaiyas, as the migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are described in these parts, constitute some 40% of the electorate in Delhi. In east and outer Delhi, they’ve the potential to make or mar the prospects of the principal political players in several assembly segments.

In the just-concluded MCD elections, there were indications that the migrant community gave vent to their ire against the ruling party by voting for the BJP or, alternatively, for the BSP. Ms Dikshit’s alleged anti-Bihari remarks are only going to complicate matters for the Congress.

Aware of the negative publicity that her remarks had triggered, especially among the migrant community, the Delhi chief minister went on a damage-control mode. She blamed the media for distorting her comments — as proof, she submitted copies of the CD containing her speech to the two union ministers, but, at the same time, apologised for her utterances.

“I have already clarified my position. I have no intention of hurting the sentiments of anybody,’’ Ms Dikshit told a hurriedly-convened press conference.

She said she was fully aware of the contribution made by people coming from outside, especially from UP and Bihar, in the development of Delhi, adding her statement had been distorted. “I am sorry to learn that the Lok Sabha was agitated over my alleged statement and the House could not discharge its functions,’’ Ms Dikshit said. “Delhi is the national capital and is a home for people from every part of the country,’’ she added.

Making it clear that she had no intention of hurting the sentiments of any section, she said: “I sincerely regret and extend my apology for this unfortunate happening.”