The controversy pertaining to derogatory language used by education minister Ram Bilas Sharma against country’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, refused to die down on Monday with health minister Anil Vij butting in with his comments.
Vij said it was not correct to use derogatory words against anyone, but Nehru was “not a good leader” either.
Sharma had allegedly used a cuss word on Nehru during a speech at Maharishi Dayanand University campus in Rohtak on Sunday. The education minister later apologised for the same, saying: “If my remark has hurt anyone’s sentiment, I apologise for that.” He, however, defended himself, saying he did not want to disgrace Nehru but was citing a Haryanvi anecdote in which a cuss word was used.
Ashok Tanwar said the remarks were part of the right-wing party’s campaign to humiliate national icons.
The Congress reacted sharply against Sharma’s remarks and protested in Rohtak, Jind and other places.
In Sirsa, angry Congress workers led by party leader Naveen Kedia shouted slogans against Sharma outside the mini-secretariat and also burnt his effigy.
The Congress members demanded that Sharma resign with immediate effect. “He should have control on his language while talking about a senior leader of the nation. This cannot be tolerated,” said Kedia.
{{/usCountry}}The Congress members demanded that Sharma resign with immediate effect. “He should have control on his language while talking about a senior leader of the nation. This cannot be tolerated,” said Kedia.
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