Indian PM Modi refuses to fire minister for attack on non-Hindus
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NEW DELHI: India's Hindu nationalist premier Narendra Modi on Thursday rejected angry calls to dismiss a government minister whose derogatory comment about religious minorities has caused uproar in parliament.
India's upper house has been paralysed by opposition protests since Niranjan Jyoti told a crowd at a campaign rally on Monday to decide whether they wanted a government run by “the children of (Hindu god) Ram or the children of bastards”.
Jyoti, a junior minister in the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, has since apologised for the comment, seen as an attack on religious minorities in the majority-Hindu nation.
But opposition parties have continued to demand her dismissal, and on Thursday Modi sought to stem the political fallout by urging lawmakers to accept her apology.
“This minister is new, she has entered parliament for the first time (at the last election)... She has apologised,” Modi said. “I request the House to continue with its work in the interests of the country.“
The BJP was accused during this year's general election campaign of trying to polarise votes along religious lines.
Hindus make up 80 per cent of India's 1.2-billion population while Muslims total 13.4 per cent, according to census figures. Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs and other religions account for the rest.
Party president Amit Shah faces charges of inflaming religious tensions with a campaign speech he gave in the northern district of Muzaffarnagar, which was hit last year by deadly Hindu-Muslim riots.
Read: Narendra Modi sworn in as India’s 15th prime minister
Modi, who led his party to a landslide victory in national elections in May, was himself accused of failing to curb 2002 anti-Muslim riots that claimed at least 1,000 lives when he was chief minister of Gujarat state.
He has always rejected the accusations, and India's Supreme Court found no evidence to prosecute him.
Jyoti, minister for food processing industries, made her comment at a rally in New Delhi, where local elections will be held early next year.
A spokesman for the opposition Congress party, Meem Afzal, described her statements as “an abuse to democracy”, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI).
“Though she has apologised, we know that such an apology is nothing. She should feel ashamed and resign,” Afzal said.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (112) Closed
Dec 04, 2014 02:26pm
Please join in condemning this - if the "holy" people have such thoughts, what about the "unholy" ones. Congress or BJP, all politicians are alike. She deserves to be thrown out of the Indian Parliament!
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Dec 04, 2014 02:28pm
@Sonal Perhaps you are the only sane voice...you deserve to be the prime minister of India instead...
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Dec 04, 2014 02:29pm
Same news on Indian newspapers are printed like the following: Indian premier Narendra Modi castigated and condemned the statement of his minister in strongest terms. And urged that she she has already appologized there is no point in stretching the matter and stalling the proceedings of Parliament.
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Dec 04, 2014 02:30pm
Modi can't do. Those who came to power through their policy of hate would never deviate from it. It is, however, important for Modi not to underestimate minorities as they have been fully contributing in the progress of India.
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Dec 04, 2014 02:35pm
This was not a comment for minorities, it was comment for Arvind Kejriwal and Congress party. Who gonna say you that this is comment for minorities.
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Dec 04, 2014 02:37pm
India's Hindu nationalist premier Narendra Modi....you all are saints.
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Dec 04, 2014 02:42pm
what else you can expect for religious extremist like modi and his cronies! poor minorities in India
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Dec 04, 2014 02:45pm
So going by his justification, her main fault was that she wasn't experienced enough to hide her inner hatred appropriately? And that people in positions of power should be alowed to make extremely hurtful comments without being accountable as long as they just apologise afterwards? Any where in the developed world she would have been kicked out. I guess India is not there yet. And yes, Pakistan is no better when it comes to minorities but at least we don't pretend otherwise.
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Dec 04, 2014 02:49pm
@Sonal Congress party never make such derogatory comments against Muslim. It is the culture of BJP
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Dec 04, 2014 02:51pm
@Sonal : And she is "Sadhvi" ( lady of peace )! But we Indians are fast losing any sense of humour, and getting too touchy.
As Salman Rushdie said " Nobody has the right to not be offended, if you are offended it is your problem, and frankly lots of things offend lots of people ". Why can't we just tune in to the people who are saying good things, among the 1.25 billion Indians and counting ?
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Dec 04, 2014 02:52pm
@Sonal No place for bigots in society...what ever persuasion they follow.....she should have been thrown out....I think courts should take suo moto notice or some one should file a PIL...shame on her....btw I am of Indian origin and Hindu by birth
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Dec 04, 2014 02:53pm
Modi looks deadly determined in one of the pics. Pl don't scare NS with this pic
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Dec 04, 2014 02:54pm
This is true face of secular India.we condemned modi and his new jr minister.minorities must protest strongly against irrational action of Hindu govt of India.
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Dec 04, 2014 02:56pm
@Sonal
how come? Pakistani Mullahs do the same about the minorities in Pakistan. Religion is a curse and the humanity suffers for it.
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Dec 04, 2014 03:03pm
Modi is never going remove her
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Dec 04, 2014 03:03pm
All muslim,christian,hindu,congress,CPM ,BJP leaders used to comment such statements every day not new to us...........
prime minister announced that she did the mistake. What else opposition want?
btw.......whats Pakistan medias interest on this?
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Dec 04, 2014 03:08pm
There are a lot of lines, which have no any significance, regarding this news. Tottaly manipulated.
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Dec 04, 2014 03:12pm
What she said is right. I didn't liked her to apologize. Let the christians and muzzies move out of the holy land of India.
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Dec 04, 2014 03:17pm
Moti is an excellent example of religious extremists. Don't expect that Modi will take any action against the like-minded fellows.
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Dec 04, 2014 03:21pm
The comment by the Minister was against opposition parties like Congress and not against minorities. Dawn to please check the facts.
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Dec 04, 2014 03:22pm
Modi never going to remove her
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Dec 04, 2014 03:26pm
@Sonal "Please join in condemning this"
go and start campaign at back home. whose support you seeking here at pakistani news site?
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Dec 04, 2014 03:26pm
The comment was aimed at congress party. The leftist media and opposition twisted it to make it communal remark.
There have been 1000 comments against Indian PM for last 12years, none of those opposition ministers and leaders apologized,.
Why should this dalit leader sadvhi resign? she comes from weaker section of society
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Dec 04, 2014 03:27pm
The minister is "NEW" but her mindset is what is of concern. These feelings are no developed in a few days....but harbor years of hatred....Sad that in this day and age we have people who think like that...
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Dec 04, 2014 03:28pm
True face of Indian psychology
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Dec 04, 2014 03:30pm
@Prashant Bangalore : Do you want to say that tone of reporting reduces or increases the severity of the incident? However you report it, this incident reveals the ugly thoughts of BJP.
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Dec 04, 2014 03:40pm
True colors of the Modi regime regime starting to show. If this was done by a Western white government minister, against any minority, he would be accused of racism and summarily dismissed. Or at least the public pressure would have forced him to resign.
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Dec 04, 2014 03:42pm
I am a Pakistani but would like to praise Narendra Modi. He is a true leader. May we get some good and confident person like him. He is a true politician. I dont see any issue in saving the minister, at least Modi scolded him on doing that. Opposition always search for matters..
Modi ji, Pakistan loves you too..
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Dec 04, 2014 03:46pm
She didn't any community specifically, most probably it was Kejriwal Gang she was targeting. Why Muslims are associating themselves with that H word?
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Dec 04, 2014 03:49pm
Sheer disgrace. This minister must be sacked to uphold the dignity of the country. As a leader of the masses she is totally accountable and cannot be forgiven for her crass comments. An ordinary citizen would have been penalised so why not her?
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Dec 04, 2014 03:52pm
@Bunty In July 2010, around 60 members of the minority Hindu community in Karachi were attacked and evicted from their homes following an incident of a Hindu youth drinking water from a tap near an Islamic mosque.
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Dec 04, 2014 03:56pm
She has not spoken anything against minorities.It was meant for the parties who are looting our country.You can get her speech from you tube or any other source , other than pakistani media.This is my personal opinion that pakistani media tweak the facts when its about India.However i too feel bad and never expect a MP to utter such words.
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Dec 04, 2014 04:00pm
She belongs to backward class, and a twelfth grade pass, and had a bad marriage, has a bad mouth, what can be expected from her.
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Dec 04, 2014 04:03pm
Great for the image and unity of bharat!
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Dec 04, 2014 04:11pm
@Truth wil win finally(wait and see) She didn't mantioned any community specifically, most probably it was Kejriwal Gang or congress she was targeting. Why Muslims are associating themselves with that H word?
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Dec 04, 2014 04:14pm
@Shafiq Khan ....mera bhai 100% sach baat....
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Dec 04, 2014 04:20pm
That minister should be sacked. Modi will surely sack her later….not because of what she said about whom, but because Modi has repeatedly told ministers not to speak to the media on frivolous issues. This woman will be punished.
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Dec 04, 2014 04:22pm
she didn't say any thing about non Hindus, she abused congress, However such idiots should not be in our Parliament
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Dec 04, 2014 04:29pm
I can tell you I'm certainly not proud of this latest remark made by someone who is on our top ministry. In fact I'm so ashamed and surprised at the fact that she has the audacity to continue hanging onto power. The remarks made against any particular sector, doesn't matter minority or not, should not be tolerated. I'm proud as Indian about the fact that there is equal opportunity for every citizen in the country to raise their opinion, in fact the minorities have reservations to bring them to mainstream.
But this is disappointing and as an Indian I do apologize to anyone who is hurt by this particular incident.
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Dec 04, 2014 04:35pm
@Z Khan : if the minorities are so badly treated why don't they go to their pyara jannatlike pak homeland.
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Dec 04, 2014 04:38pm
@Bunty : congress hates hindus.
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Dec 04, 2014 04:39pm
@Dr chachar : where have pakistan's minorities vanished ?
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Dec 04, 2014 04:51pm
@A. Khan : at least you can speak in India, minorities in pak simply get killed for no rhyme or reason.
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Dec 04, 2014 05:06pm
@Z Khan are you for real? any idea what is happening to minorities in Pakistan?
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Dec 04, 2014 05:16pm
@Sonal I am not Indian, so my comments may be biased. I think she should be condemned and censured, but not fired.
The PM should do a better job screening the candidates who come up for cabinet level positions.
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Dec 04, 2014 06:34pm
@afroz.khan 28@yahoo.in :Modi is the leader of South Asia.
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Dec 04, 2014 06:36pm
@A. Khan : How many from Pak law makers has resigned when the minorities are abducted/murdered/burnt in Pak in the name of blasphemy.
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Dec 04, 2014 06:46pm
Minorities are always going to suffar. They have save them self
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Dec 04, 2014 06:51pm
Indian media never made such headline: Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif refuse to fire himself and other ministers for attack on Pakistani economy on the request of PTI or PAT. Don't know why Pakistani leading newspapers giving such importance to Indian internal political issues.
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Dec 04, 2014 06:55pm
who ever report 80% hindus in india are dead wrong,kindly check the actual stats before printing
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Dec 04, 2014 06:55pm
Every one should take equal responsibilities towards growth and development of India; does not matter whether majority or minority. Sometimes minority leaders too make lots of mess on this type of political issues to score votes. The society must move on - keep moving as she already repented and apologized for her mistaken statement publicly specially in the parliament.
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Dec 04, 2014 06:57pm
Character of a nation depends on accepting the mistakes and moving forwards.
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Dec 04, 2014 07:01pm
@Bunty Congress was at the helm of affairs when babri was demolished.
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Dec 04, 2014 07:18pm
well come to incredible india
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Dec 04, 2014 07:25pm
@Faisal Right on the money bro. Could not have said it any better.
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Dec 04, 2014 07:41pm
@ghanshyam Pakistan ranks better than India on issue of minorities.
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Dec 04, 2014 07:41pm
truth hurts , ouch
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Dec 04, 2014 07:43pm
A leopard never changes it's spots.
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Dec 04, 2014 07:47pm
@Ahmed USA
Yes agree with you.
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Dec 04, 2014 07:48pm
She should be sacked and prosecuted. Modi should do it.
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Dec 04, 2014 07:48pm
@Mard@gmail.com
Where as in gujerat when modi was CM?
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Dec 04, 2014 07:49pm
Its none of Paki Business. We know the condition of Hindus, Christians, Ahmadis in Pakistan
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Dec 04, 2014 07:51pm
@Dr chachar That's a BIG JOKE. Pak is the worst in protecting minorities. You know that too. Just want to be blind against your own. Open up the eyes.
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Dec 04, 2014 07:51pm
@Vishnu Shankar
It's nice to hear the voice of reason from over the border.
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Dec 04, 2014 07:59pm
@Z Khan What about minorities in PAKISTAN, my dear friend? But asking you this question doesn't mean I am favouring her comments, I condemn her for her statement
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Dec 04, 2014 08:00pm
He is following the Chanakya philosophy
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Dec 04, 2014 08:05pm
Why would he? What's the difference between her and him except one just said it, the latter actually did it!!!???
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Dec 04, 2014 08:19pm
These are the type of comments/ rhetoric with which Hitler started his final solution.
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Dec 04, 2014 08:23pm
@Gaurav Arya you make excuses.
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Dec 04, 2014 08:24pm
Such people are disgrace to our religion which calls for universal acceptance. Unfortunately, in this time of Kalyuga, when ignorance is high and virtue is at lowest levels, people would still support her.
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Dec 04, 2014 08:48pm
So Modi represents the saffron color and came out in favor of bigotory. Now his anti-Muslim policies will face domestic opposition.
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Dec 04, 2014 09:25pm
Secular India!!!!
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Dec 04, 2014 09:26pm
So in effect he supports her views. Good going Mr. Modi, expose yourself more.
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Dec 04, 2014 09:26pm
He is only taking after the Pakistani example, no biggee
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Dec 04, 2014 09:28pm
Wow! can't beleive he made such Deep derogatory statement and still remains in power !
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Dec 04, 2014 09:32pm
@Rajab Ali Modi has never made any remark against any minority and he is considered the real secular person in india unlike other pseudo secular who do appeasement politics.
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Dec 04, 2014 11:08pm
Unacceptable language from a politician.
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Dec 05, 2014 12:03am
What a way to present the news! You guys actually do not want the two countries to be friends. Never has Modi ever said or protected her. The remarks she made was not for non Hindus !this kind of biased reporting is going to make things worse....
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Dec 05, 2014 12:12am
Ok to throw Tis minister now wat about J.k cheif minister remark in rally? Does anybody care?
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Dec 05, 2014 12:14am
@Bunty How can congress party call them dirty names.Minorities are congress' voters.
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Dec 05, 2014 12:32am
Good decision by Modi.
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Dec 05, 2014 12:37am
not a big issue
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Dec 05, 2014 01:04am
If any party Leader is not able to have control on their words, they should be asked to resign. Because what the do is followed by others. It should go as a message to other. Alas in politics this is not easy...
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Dec 05, 2014 03:07am
The BJP leaders & ministers need to be careful not to make any polarizing & divisive statements. The government's goal should be the development of all sections & communities of the country & that can only be achieved when there's communal harmony. Modi needs to be strict & fire such people from his cabinet.
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Dec 05, 2014 03:34am
We are witnessing the transition of India from a secular country to a Hindu state.
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Dec 05, 2014 03:41am
@Taufeeq Ali Indian dude , don't play this game
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Dec 05, 2014 05:27am
Modi and his ministers are clearly prejudice and bigot.
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Dec 05, 2014 05:49am
So finally the "secular" mask is off. GOD protect the minorities of INDIA.
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Dec 05, 2014 05:59am
Looks like India is sitting at the edge of civil war.
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Dec 05, 2014 06:07am
@ghanshyam like the 5,000 muslims in Gujarat.
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Dec 05, 2014 07:10am
What we speak out ,we cannot take those words back.So,people especially in position of power should be very careful of their utterances. Modi is out on his developmental agenda and jobless opposition is searching for issues to run him down and stall developmental work.So,it is responsibility of his colleagues to be careful while public places so that they do not provide cannon fodder to the opposition. The minister never said it against minorities but it was directed at those in congress who were involved in myriads of scams such as 2G,CWG,Coal gate,etc.However,so called secular parties gave a communal tone to it and media houses picked it up to increase their TRP without verifying the facts.TRP matters more than genuine concern for minorities. But such news does not increase communal harmony.So,how does media contribute to Aman Ki Asha ? Having said that, common people do expect civilized language from elected representatives.
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Dec 05, 2014 07:34am
Modi is akin to a self destructive time bomb, and this time bomb is slowly yet surely ticking away to its doom.
Just keep it up Modi and BJP, this only the tip of a very dark and ominous iceberg which is about to surface and crash very soon! It will slam and finally wake up your idealistic voters from their fool's paradise - voters who have been duped and made colossal fools of by the Hindutva.
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Dec 05, 2014 07:35am
This comment page will separate the brave from the cowards - those who are anti-Modi Pakistanis from the Modi loving puppet trolls.
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Dec 05, 2014 07:47am
@Dr chachar What do you mean by Hindu Government. All government in India were Hindu government with 1 billion Hindus. That is what you get.
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Dec 05, 2014 07:50am
@Z Khan , you say "poor minorities in India". But can you imagine the Pakistani legislature stalled by the opposition in favor of your minorities, for example against the blasphemy law? Be happy that you are a Muslim in your country, and that too belonging to the right sect, for now.
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Dec 05, 2014 07:54am
@Dr chachar Where did you hear this. Is this a joke?
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Dec 05, 2014 08:09am
She must be fired. Religion has no place in state affairs. All Indians of all faiths are equal. No one is above the other.
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Dec 05, 2014 09:28am
This comment was for the opposition and not for any community. However, it is being highly condemned in India. Such lose comments are really uncalled for, but I don't think Modi would compromise on his development agenda because of a sweeping statement..
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Dec 05, 2014 09:57am
Language she used is not expected from a minister. But she was referring to corruption and congress party. Please dont twist things. Minority people were present with her on stage at that time.
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Dec 05, 2014 11:11am
@Sonal Well said - if she's Sadhvi then why she needs any political post or designation?
Better she tried to stop early age marriages in rural India and need to spread importance of Education and
Clean India Movement.
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Dec 05, 2014 11:12am
@Z Khan What about Chritian couple burnt alive in Pakistan, Hazara case?
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Dec 05, 2014 11:16am
@Z Khan What about JUD chief Hafeez Saeed rally on 4/5 Dec. in Lahore for which he booked 2 special trains from
Karachi & Hyderabad to Lahore by paying Rs. 50 Lakh to Pakistan govt. - is he a "Saint of Pakistan"?
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Dec 05, 2014 02:31pm
you guys should look out your's internal problem first rather than concentrating on modi. :P
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Dec 05, 2014 03:15pm
It should be condemned...!!!
and am glad that our Honorable PM took forward & scold her.....!!
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Dec 05, 2014 08:03pm
Religion and govt should not go hand in hand. It has created a mess in the past in many civilizations. Hatred against other religions should be discouraged.
All religions should be respected, above all the right of people to practice any religion (or not any religion) should be respected.
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Dec 06, 2014 11:38am
I'm an Indian. India is united and in relatively harmony so-far - only because the system respects every identity and also respects individual freedom of expression (without disrespecting other identity). India bans Santanic-verse (for harmony), india gives assylum to Taslima (as it respects human life and freedom of expression).
But allowing this "representative MP?" to talk in rubbish is not good for BJP/RSS/India. So the party should ask her to resign to avoid a bad name for India/RSS/BJP in that order.
Ofcourse, other indians may compare with how pak burnt a christian couple alleging blasphamy (therefore we are morally better). But we are not pakistan, we don't want to become pakistan, we should not be linked to the fate of pakistan in any way any time.
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Dec 06, 2014 04:48pm
What a headline. It seems minister physically attacked non-hindus which was not the case. It was case of usage of inapropriate language and Minister apologies for that.
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Dec 06, 2014 08:48pm
And the Gujrat heinous riot is a reminder for you too! Where is your harmony at work when you have gross human rights violation in Kasmir?
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Dec 06, 2014 10:02pm
As a Hindu, Indian and global citizen, this is exactly the kind of thing we feared when BJP looked like it might win the elections. For anyone, even a 10 year old to say something like this minister is abominable. For a minister of "processed foods" to say this is beyond any measure of propriety.
There is no excuse not to fire her on the spot.
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Dec 06, 2014 11:56pm
He will never fire her, she is like minded. She said what he is thinking.
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Dec 06, 2014 11:58pm
@Prashant Bangalore so an apology clears her, but who will clear her mindset. And she is still minister.
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Dec 08, 2014 06:13pm
It's routine news in India. Nothing to be seriously taken. People of India are much busy in doing their business, working hard in offices and making their child engineer, scientist and doctors so that it can help entire world to be a peaceful and prosperous place to live. Making next generation's future.
So, i would advise sensible news by Dawn which can inspire billions of people in this twines countries.
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