Congress demands apology from Minister VK Singh

NEW DELHI:Union Minister V K Singh was at the centre of attack, with Congress creating a ruckus in the Lok Sabha seeking action against him for his dog analogy and staged a walkout.

The Trinamool Congress and the Left too staged a walkout on the issue with the Left seeking action against the Minister, who was present in the House, and the TMC demanding a regret from him.

As soon as the House met for the day, Congress sought to raise the issue but Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said she has disallowed all notices for suspension of Question Hour.

Following this, Congress members trooped into the Well shouting slogans against the government.

Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said the government during the debate on intolerance did not touch upon the remarks made by Singh about Dalits. He also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi what action he plans to take against Singh.

Later, the Congress again raised the issue after the Question Hour was over with Kharge saying, "We protest against the attitude of the government... They (the government) should listen."

As the Speaker denied permission to raise the issue, Kharge along with other Congress members staged a walkout.

Mahajan told Kharge that Home Minister Rajnath Singh had given a detailed reply yesterday, adding that Congress members were not in the House during the speech, apparently referring to their walkout yesterday.

"Please have some tolerance for the mandate of the people," Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said referring to the Opposition continuing to criticise the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As the Congress members walked out, Naidu urged the Speaker to ensure that comments against a particular community should not go on the record.

V K Singh did not make such comments about Dalits and there is no reason for the Opposition to raise the issue again and again, Naidu said.