Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday demanded that Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi should apologize in Parliament for the alleged threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s life by Congress party workers.
Addressing a press conference in the national capital today, Rijiju said, “We are working for the country and it is extremely unfortunate and sad that Congress workers have openly announced to dig the grave of Prime Minister Modi.”
Rijiju said that workers and leaders of Congress and BJP are political rivals, not enemies. “We preach different ideologies, but work together for a developed India as per the dreams of Prime Minister Modi,” he said.
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister said that at a Congress rally in the national capital on Sunday, some party workers had threatened to dig the Prime Minister’s grave. Rijiju said, “The Congress President and the Leader of the Opposition should apologize to the people of the country in the Parliament.”
The Union Minister also recalled an incident in 2014, when BJP MP Niranjan Jyoti had made some negative remarks against the opposition and the Prime Minister had asked him to immediately apologise, which he did.
He said, “In 2014, our MP Niranjan Jyoti used the wrong word for opposition leaders. The Prime Minister immediately asked her to apologize and she apologized. The standard of language in a democracy should be understood by all of us.”
He further said, “BJP-NDA never said anything about killing anyone or killing anyone’s parents. We may be political rivals, but if someone is ill, on a birthday or on other such occasions, we wish each other.”
Furthermore, Rijiju said, “We are always ready to discuss all issues. Running away from Parliament and abusing the Prime Minister does not suit a civilized society. I would like to say once again that the Congress President and the Leader of the Opposition should apologize to the country in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.”
Congress leader Manju Lata Meena had yesterday said during the party’s rally against alleged ‘vote theft’ at Ramlila Maidan here, “Modi will dig your grave, if not today then it will be dug tomorrow.”
She defended her controversial statement, saying that she was only expressing public anger over voting theft and that the Prime Minister had not yet discussed any real issue.
Jaipur Mahila Congress district president Meena said, “There is a huge anger among the public over the rigging in voting. They (BJP) have formed these governments by rigging and the Election Commission is also working as per their instructions. Prime Minister Modi does not talk about employment, youth, women or farmers. He diverts attention from the issues,”
