Sadhvi Jyoti issue: PM Narendra Modi's intervention fails in Lok Sabha too

NEW DELHI: A day after his unproductive intervention in the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday appealed to the Lok Sabha, too, to treat the issue of Niranjan Jyoti’s controversial remarks as a closed chapter since she had apologised to the House. He also urged the House to show understanding to her inexperience and rural background.

However, agitating Opposition members rejected his appeal, created a noisy protest in the House and walked out of the House to stage a dharna outside. Responding to Opposition members demand for his intervention since Thursday, Modi got up and said. “The minister has already apologised and since she is a first-time MP and comes from a rural background I appeal to all to accept her apology and let the matter rest... Seniors should set an example by showing large-heartedness and accepting her apology”.

Trying to appease agitated members, Modi thanked members of the Lok Sabha for allowing the House to function, unlike in the Rajya Sabha, despite their protests. “We should respect the traditions… We should move ahead with our work of taking the nation ahead,” he said. The PM also recalled how while addressing the BJP parliamentary party meeting he strongly disproved Jyoti’s statement and expressed anger soon after her controversial remarks.

But after the PM’s statement, Congress floor leaders Mallikarjun Kharge was heard saying the statement was not enough and that action must be taken against the minister. While Congress members started protesting, Rahul Gandhi, wearing a black band over his mouth, was seen sitting in the second row watching the exchanges between Kharge and the chair.

After the Speaker disallowed him to speak, Congress MPs along with those from the Trinamool Congress, Janata Parivar and Left staged a walk-out. Other Congress MPs too had black bands over their mouths to indicate their voices were being muffled and along with their leader, staged a dharna near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament complex. Kharge said Speaker Sumitra Mahajan was gagging the Opposition voice and alleged that his mike was switched off while he was registering his protest after the PM’s statement.