Live: Arun Jaitley Backs Smriti Irani Over ‘Durga’ Comment

“HRD Minister must apologise for the blasphemous comments about Goddess Durga,” says Anand Sharma.

Smriti Irani speaks in Rajya Sabha on the third of Budget session 2016. (Photo: PTI)

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Smriti Irani over the “Durga” comment said, “The statement was signed by JNU students, it was not a mere pamphlet.”

Yechury replied to Irani saying, “I beseech you, please do not pass unverified statements as evidences.”

Updated at:26th Feb, 2016 at 5:02 PM

Jaitley Backs Irani

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley supported Smriti Irani on the ‘Durga’ comment. He responded to Sitaram Yechury saying, “Every word that the Minister has spoken has been authenticated. If you have said something, authenticate that.”

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Rajya Sabha

Yechury replied, “She quoted Macbeth – foul is fair and fair is foul. She is making all that is foul, fair.”

Updated at:26th Feb, 2016 at 5:02 PM

Who is a Good Hindu, Asks Sitaram Yechury

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury blamed government in the Rajya Sabha for the recent death of the Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad University.

Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) leader

You have pushed the child to commit suicide, its virtually a murder. Who is a good Hindu? Will they give certificates? Why is all this being brought up here in the august House to divide country? Minister says there was a Dalit professor in the committee. Yes, but he gave a dissenting note and quit.

Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) leader in Rajya Sabha

Updated at:26th Feb, 2016 at 5:02 PM

Irani Claims Inquiry Was Led by Officer From Minority Community

Rohith Vemula was not devoid of the fellowship money.The proctorial board which took decisions included SC/ST members as well. Rohith’s mother’s only plea was to constitute a judicial inquiry into her child’s death. The officer leading the delegation was from minority community.

Smriti Irani

Updated at:26th Feb, 2016 at 3:46 PM

No Dalit Member in Rohith’s Inquiry Committee: Mayawati

I am not satisfied with HRD Minister’s enquiry into Vemula’s case. The truth is that the inquiry committee had no Dalit member. Because of this we think that this probe committee can never conduct a fair inquiry into Rohith’s death. The investigation into Rohith’s death was led by an upper caste. 

Mayawati in Rajya Sabha

Updated at:26th Feb, 2016 at 3:20 PM

Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 2.30 pm.

Updated at:26th Feb, 2016 at 1:47 PM

‘Govt Has Disappointed the Youth’

The ruling dispensation has paid a price in Bihar for neglecting the countryside. Youth voted for this Government hoping that there will be great change. But hope has turned into despair.

Bhartruhari Mahtab, BJD in Lok Sabha

Bhartruhari Mahtab, BJD in Lok Sabha

Updated at:26th Feb, 2016 at 4:40 PM

“The poor opened bank accounts in Jan Dhan Yojna hoping that 15 Lakh will come into their account, not even 15 Rs came,” said Sultan Ahmed, TMC in Lok Sabha.

Updated at:26th Feb, 2016 at 4:40 PM

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Crucial for Us to Secure Siachen: Manohar Parrikar

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar

We will ensure that those who work in difficult areas like Siachen are properly compensated. If you vacate this position (Siachen) and enemy occupies that, it will be impossible and we’ll have to lose many lives to recover it. I know we are paying a price for that, but we need to maintain this position. I salute our brave soldiers. From strategic point of view, it is very important for us to secure the Siachen area.

Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister in Lok Sabha

Updated at:26th Feb, 2016 at 1:46 PM

I Am Myself a Durga Worshipper: Smriti Irani

The comments about Goddess Durga were made on veracity of facts yesterday. These are authenticated documents from the university itself. These are not Government documents. I read it because I was asked to explain what is the proof. I myself am a Durga worshipper, I said it with a lot of pain.

Smriti Irani in RS

“It is a tradition of the House that no blasphemous things will be said here,” said the Rajya Sabha Speaker.

Updated at:26th Feb, 2016 at 5:28 PM

“I agree that the Mayawati’s demand for a Dalit person will be responded to, I made the observation that the government may consider this,” said Rajya Sabha Speaker.

Mayawati had demanded that a Dalit person to be made a part of the inquiry committee in the Rohith Vemula case.

Anand Sharma Demands Apology From Irani Over Durga Comment

Anand Sharma, Deputy Leader-Congress (Photo: PTI)

HRD Minister must apologise for what she said about Goddess Durga, it’s blasphemous. We kept requesting her to stop but she didn’t. Nothing blasphemous must be tolerated in Rajya Sabha.

Anand Sharma, Deputy Leader-Congress, Rajya Sabha

Smriti Irani responded saying, “I myself am a Durga worshipper, I said it with a lot of pain”.

Updated at:26th Feb, 2016 at 5:28 PM

BJP’s Anurag Thakur gives notice in Lok Sabha on Chidambaram’s statement on Afzal Guru and Former Home Secretary GK Pillai’s claims on Ishrat.

Updated at:26th Feb, 2016 at 12:53 PM

Congress to stall Rajya Sabha over Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani’s remarks in Parliament on Thursday.

Left party MPs from Kerala, protest at Gandhi statue in Parliament demanding increase in import duty on rubber.

Updated at:26th Feb, 2016 at 12:01 PM

According to Smriti Irani the Telangana police had told the state High Court that no doctor was allowed near Rohith Vemula’s body. In a fiery speech in Parliament, she also said that no doctor had gone near Rohith’s body until 6.30 am the next day.

However, the doctor on duty at the University of Hyderabad refuted Irani’s claims.

Updated at:26th Feb, 2016 at 12:01 PM

The JNU row and the suicide of Dalit student Rohith Vemula dominated the discussion in the Parliament for the second consecutive day on Thursday. On a day when Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu present the Railway Budget 2016, the House witnessed repeated adjournments and exchange between the treasury and opposition benches.

While the Opposition accused the BJP of trying to suppress dissent and impose their idea of a “theocratic, fascistic Hindu Rashtra” on the country, the government maintained that hate speech cannot be free speech.

Also read: Rail Budget: No Hike in Fares; 3 Freight Corridors to be Set up

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Updated at:26th Feb, 2016 at 11:33 AM