BJP leader Giriraj Singh makes racist comment against Congress President Sonia Gandhi

Updated: Wednesday, April 1, 2015, 15:19 [IST]

New Delhi/ Patna, April 1: The controversial BJP leader and Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Giriraj Singh on Wednesday, April 1 made shameful and racist remarks against the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

According to reports, Singh, while talking to media-persons in Hajipur in Vaishali district of Bihar, "What if (former PM) Rajiv Gandhi had married a Nigerian and if she was not white skinned, then would Congress have accepted her as the party chief?"

"This is unfortunate for the Congress party", said the loyalist of PM Narendra Modi.

Singh, who is known for his fiery statements, also raised question on the Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's absence and compared it to the missing Malaysian flight MH 370.

"If Congress had been in power and Rahul Gandhi was the prime minister, then for some reason, he would have disappeared for 43-47 days, what would have happened? The entire Budget session got over but where is Rahul Gandhi?", he asked.

"The absence of Rahul Gandhi is like the disappearance of a Malaysian plane which has still not been located. Nobody is ready to represent Congress. This is unfortunate for the Congress and a joke for the country", he further said.

[Giriraj Singh in Modi ministry: Preparing grounds for Bihar polls?]

Meanwhile, Congress senior leader Digvijay Singh said, "Action must be taken against him, The government must hold accountability."

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "The Congress strongly deprecates and condemns the intemperate and distasteful remarks of Union Minister Giriraj Singh bordering on insanity. It appears that continuous quest to appease Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made him lose his balance. Such remarks are reflective of lack of moral fiber in BJP and its cadre."

Other political parties also condemned the appalling comment by 62-year-old Giriraj Singh.

While condemning his remarks, CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat told a news channel, "He is serial offender. PM has a duty to publicly correct this situation. What is PM's 'mann ki baat' on this? His silence reflects connivance and encouragement."

However, this is not the first time when the BJP MP from Nawada, Bihar, Singh has been embroiled into such a controversy.

In the past too, Singh has made hate speeches and BJP has always distanced itself from Singh's unwarranted statements.

Last month, another Bihar politican and JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav had also made sexist remarks against women.

[From Sharad Yadav to Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: Politicians who made sexist remarks on women]

"The body of women from south is as good as beautiful they are. They (women) in our region are not that good as those (in south) know dancing," Yadav had said in Rajya Sabha during a debate on insurance bill.

"There has been a long struggle against discrimination based on colour... I am ready to participate in a debate any time," Yadav had said.

[BJP distances itself from Giriraj Singh over controversial remark]

Here is how Twiteratti reacted to Singh's shameful remarks:

Ministers like @girirajsinghbjp shd talk about #NamoVision of new India than to weaken his Resolve by passing undesirable bytes in media.
— NaMoChaiParty (@NamoChaiParty) April 1, 2015

@girirajsinghbjp i support your remarks on Italian Sonia.
— Rajendra S. Butola (@navybutola) April 1, 2015

#GirirajSingh #SharadYadav #SadhviNiranjanJyoti #AzamKhan #YogiAdityanath #MulayamSingh How do they get votes! Are we DUMB? #RacistMinister
— shehbaz salim (@shaby_44514) April 1, 2015

#RacistMinister Giriraj statement just shows the overall mentality is BJP #disgusting
— Saptagiri Ulaka (@saptagiriulaka) April 1, 2015

The racist comments by @girirajsinghbjp is representative of the set of entry criteria to get into BJP. #RacistMinister
— Baba Modi Bhakt (@BabaGlocal) April 1, 2015

Modis Cabinet minister Giriraj Singh makes racist remarks on Sonia Gandhi and then laughs. Shame on Modi. #RacistMinister
— Vinod Mehta (@DrunkVinodMehta) April 1, 2015

Modi sahebs #RacistMinister Giriraj Singh makes racist comments against Sonia Gandhi & laugh with journos arround him. Highly objectionable
— Shekhar Josa (@Josa_Sr) April 1, 2015

#GiriRajSingh is a bigot.And clearly, an afflicted person.Wonder how he conducts office as MoS! Sad for IAS cadre.#RacistMinister
— YeSabKyaHoRahaHai (@D_Rashtravadi) April 1, 2015

#Racistminister Giriraj Singh has always been having long tounge. BJP must have to expel him without waiting anybody to demand.
— Dhaval Trivedi (@dhaval_kumar) April 1, 2015