BJP MP in a spat with Kurien in RS

Rajya Sabha on Tuesday witnessed heated exchanges between BJP’s Vinay Katiyar and deputy chairman P. J. Kurien after the latter refused to allow the ruling party member to place his views on minorities in the country.

Mr Kurien had earlier rejected a motion moved by SP’s Naresh Aggarwal on a US Congress- established panel’s report which said that Indian minorities were being subjected to “violent attacks and forced conversions” after the Modi government assumed power in 2014.

Mr Katiyar got up after the Opposition parties started criticising the government but was not given permission by the Chair, which said that the motion has already been rejected.

Mr Kurien said once the motion has been rejected and the minister of state for parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has responded on behalf of the government, there is no need for anyone else to speak. Mr Katiyar, however, continued to insist on speaking and rushed towards the Chair. Mr Katiyar refused to take his seat even when the deputy chairman was on his feet to bring the House to order.

Before the Chair announced its ruling on Mr Aggarwal’s motion, Mr Naqvi said India’s Constitution and culture “guarantees religious freedom. We don’t need any certificate from anyone.”

Mr Kurien insisted that he would not allow the BJP member to speak. “You cannot browbeat me. Don’t browbeat me. Nothing should go on record,” he said.