Congress questions "culpable silence" of PM Modi on Sadhvi's remarks

New Delhi, Dec 2: Congress on Tuesday questioned the "culpable silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the controversial remarks by Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti and suspected a political motive behind her utterances ahead of Delhi assembly polls.

"What is Narendra Modi's stand on this? Why has he not condemned it so far? Before this, Giriraj Singh had also said such things and he was made a minister. Why is he (Modi) quiet? The issue is not only these two.

"The issue is the culpable silence of the Prime Minister within and outside Parliament on it," party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told reporters here.

Wondering whether the Prime Minister has given "direct, indirect, approbation, support and endorsement" to these, Singhvi said "why is Modi running with the hare and hunting with the hound? Why is the monotonous regularity of such remarks before and around elections?"

The tough posture on the issue by Congress came after it was decided in a meeting of party leaders with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, that the party should go on the offensive on issues like this.

Alleging that Uttar Pradesh was made the first laboratory of such politics in the run up to Lok Sabha polls by BJP, the Congress spokesperson said "has Delhi now also become a similar laboratory? In this context, he also drew attention to the fire in a church in the national capital. Congress also raised the church burning issue in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha today.

Asking how can a central minister, appointed just a few days back, have the "temerity and gall" to say such a thing, he said adding a mere apology by her does not erase the "criminal culpability" and hinted that some Congress leaders in individual capacity may also file criminal cases against her.

"Anybody can file an FIR and I am sure they will definitely do that," Singhvi said but made it clear that it may not be by Congress as a party. Asked whether Congress will resort to disruptions in the House even tomorrow over the issue, Singhvi said decisions are taken on a day-to-day basis but asserted "constructive opposition does not mean sleeping opposition. We will not shy away for a minute from raising our voice on such serious issues".

PTI