Cutting across party lines, Rajya Sabha members came together on Monday to demand action against those perpetrating violence against minorities and asked the government take stern action to check the growing incidences.
Raising the issue, Communist Party of India's D. Raja said: “A few days back, a 70-year-old nun was gang-raped in West Bengal. Now, a church, which is under construction, has been demolished in Haryana. There is an increase in attacks on Christian and other communities in the country. The right-wing extremist forces have become very aggressive and offensive.”
He also cited the example of a senior BJP leader making a controversial statement in Guwahati that God only resides in temples and nowhere else.
Mr. Raja was supported by Ali Anwar Ansari of the Janata Dal(U), Tapan Kumar Sen (CPI-M) and Sukhendu Sekhar Roy (Trinamool Congress), who also sought a discussion on the issue. Mr. Sen said Ministers, including the Prime Minister, have said these incidents would not be repeated, but the very next day, sometimes even on the same day, inflammatory speeches and statements are made to divide people on caste, religion and various other grounds.
TMC's Derek O’Brien raised the issue of the rape of the nun and said a CID probe had been ordered and seven persons had been detained.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi concurred that the State governments should take necessary action in such cases and book the culprits. “... communal harmony should be maintained. Everyone has the right to practise his religion,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has sought a report on the church attack in Haryana.
