The level of political discourse in Haryana plunged a few notches more on Monday when Education Minister Rambilas Sharma while inaugurating the “Phagun Mela” in Rohtak on Sunday inadvertently referred to country’s first Prime Minister Pandit Nehru in a derogatory term. And as if that was not bad enough, Health Minister Anil Vij later quipped that “Nehru was not a good person, but it is not right to abuse him”.
It was while inaugurating the Phalgun Mela that Mr Sharma made the uncharitable remarks against Pandit Nehru. He was narrating an anecdote when he made the faux pas.
Later on Sunday evening, however, Mr Sharma had retracted his statement and apologised stating that it was a slip off the tongue and his intention was not to hurt the sentiments of anyone. “No feeling of disrespect towards Pandit Nehru can come to my mind and neither was it my intent. Still if I have hurt anyone’s feelings, I would like to apologise.”
But the issue did not die with his apology. Congress activists took to the streets in several parts of Haryana to protest the affront. In Fatehabad, they even burnt effigies of Mr Sharma to express their anger. And then the statement by Mr Vij came which further added fuel to the fire.
Responding to these statements, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP leadership to take action. “This is shameful; they have no respect for the country or its leaders. Pandit Nehru was not only a national leader, he was a leader of international repute. He was also freedom fight and his entire family has contributed to the nation. The statements just show that this BJP Government in Haryana has been formed by an accident. It does not have leaders of calibre.”
Mr Hooda cautioned that till the time action was taken or a proper apology tendered by the BJP leaders, his party would not allow the Assembly to function.
