Lok Sabha witnesses turmoil over rape of nun, church vandalisation

NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha witnessed a heated exchange between the Opposition and the government over the vandalisation of a church in Haryana, rape of an old nun in West Bengal and controversial statement by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy about mosques and churches.

The Congress-Trinamool members charged the NDA government with “deliberate bid for communal polarisation”, while the ruling side retorted that the Opposition combine was “playing communal politics”. The exchange led to Congress and TMC staging walk-out.

Congress led by Mallikarjun Kharge and TMC led by Saugatha Roy listed the recent “rising incidents” to allege ever since NDA assumed office, BJP and Sangh was trying to communally polarise society. They alleged BJP was creating an atmosphere of religious intolerance despite PM’s assurance.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu accused Congress of “playing communal politics” and insisted his party and government was focusing on development.