New Delhi: There was uproar in Lok Sabha on Thursday over Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu’s praise for RSS during his reply on the issue of conversions.
“I feel proud to have the RSS background. Because of RSS discipline and background I have come so far,” Naidu said leading to protests by opposition.
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister rejected allegations against “mother” organisation RSS and accused the opposition parties of spreading “misinformation” to “tar” the image of the Sangh as well as that of the Modi government.
Naidu addressed the parliament on the Agra conversion row, saying that it was an important issue which is agitating the entire nation and defended the government.
“Some people are behaving as if the government is responsible for these conversions. It is a national challenge; it is not happening only today, it has been happening for a long time. And the government has just come to power. Some people are trying to use this to just accuse our government,” Naidu told the Lok Sabha.
He also said the issue was being seen from a narrow point of view. “I’m partly disappointed with the way in which conversion row was discussed in Lok Sabha,” he told the house.
“We’ve been in opposition for 50 years,” Naidu roared when the opposition disrupted the house.
During the discussion that was taken up after a round of uproar on the second straight day, opposition parties attacked the government, RSS and its affiliates, accusing them of creating communal polarization and tensions, while citing the case of conversion of some Muslims in Agra.
Hitting back at the opposition and taking pot-shots at Congress which has been “rejected” in Lok Sabha polls, he said “some people are allergic to the word Hindu” and they target RSS and the government over any or other development that may occur in any state, ruled by any party.
On the particular incident of conversion in Agra, he made it clear that the Centre had no role in dealing with it as it was a subject matter of the Uttar Pradesh government and the local administration should take action.