PM must discipline partymen

It is becoming fairly clear that Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to discipline his flock. The vulgar articulations of his ministers cannot bring anything but discredit to the government they serve. If it was a minister of state — a sadhvi or ascetic, to boot — who not long ago shocked us by her “Ramzada, haramzada” comment through which she sought to target the religious minorities, it is now Giriraj Singh, the minister for small and medium industries, who has shown the gumption to attack Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on the colour of her skin in a rank racist diatribe.

The Opposition in Parliament had wanted the sadhvi’s head, but the PM wheedled on her behalf and the issue was dropped. Since then, this political sinner from Uttar Pradesh has been rewarded and finds herself in the BJP’s national executive. The message is clear. Spewing communal venom earns you merit.

Mr Giriraj Singh is also no stranger to issuing communal vituperations. During the Lok Sabha campaign last year, he wanted Mr Modi’s opponents to be packed off to Pakistan, a clear hit at Indian Muslims who were being portrayed as being less than patriotic. He was rewarded with minister’s office. This time around, however, it is not just the BJP’s opponents who have found his remarks insufferable, but also the Nigerian ambassador since Mr Singh contrasted Ms Gandhi’s “white” complexion with Nigerian dark. There can be diplomatic embarrassment here.

Any good that Mr Modi’s Lok Sabha numbers can bring is being dynamited through communal projections.