The Winter Session of Parliament witnessed a heated start in the Lok Sabha as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs demanded an apology over an allegedly unparliamentary term used by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Senthil Kumar. The uproar persisted until BJP MP Ravi Kishan Shukla began addressing the House on Coal India’s efficiency.
The outrage stemmed from Kumar’s recent comment attributing the BJP’s electoral strength mainly to the Hindi heartland states, which he expressed using a contentious term. His remarks triggered the BJP’s ire, prompting continuous protests in the House.
Earlier, Kumar expressed regret, clarifying that his words were not intended to offend. “I apologize for using an inappropriate word while commenting on the recent state assembly elections. There was no ill intent behind the term I used,” he stated on ‘X’.
Commenting on the results of the five recent state assembly elections, I have used a word in a inappropriate way.
Not using that term with any intent,
I apologize for sending the wrong meaning across.
— Dr.Senthilkumar.S (@DrSenthil_MDRD) December 5, 2023
However, BJP ministers remained critical, accusing members of the India bloc of attempting to sow discord.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur slammed the Congress, accusing it of attempting to destroy the country’s culture. He accused certain leaders of slandering Hindutva and Sanatan Dharma, citing statements by Telangana and DMK members as examples.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh emphasized the significance of ‘Ganga’ and ‘Gau’ as Sanatan identity symbols in India. He warned against mocking or destroying these cultural icons.
BJP MP Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti urged Sonia Gandhi to clarify matters, emphasizing the BJP’s presence and electoral success in Karnataka and Telangana. She cautioned against any efforts to divide the nation.
The BJP recently clinched victory in the Hindi heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh in the state elections.
The House remains tense, reflecting the ongoing political friction between parties, as issues of cultural identity and electoral outcomes take center stage in parliamentary discussions.