Dilip Kumar called Pakistani in RS
Tribune News Service and agencies

NEW DELHI, Dec 14) — A Shiv Sena member’s remark that thespian Dilip Kumar is a "Pakistani" threw the Rajya Sabha into turmoil today, forcing adjournment of the House for the entire day without transacting any legislative business.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Nirupam made the comment after Mr Vyalar Ravi (Congress) and others, through a special mention, raised the issue of semi-nude Sena members protesting in front of Dilip Kumar’s Mumbai residence yesterday against the veteran actor’s support to the screening of award-winning controversial film ‘Fire’.

Immediately after Mr Nirupam’s remark, members became agitated and rushed to the well of the House, demanding withdrawal of the remark and an apology from the Shiv Sena member.

Film actress Shabana Azmi (nominated), who has played the lead role in the movie, was also on her feet following the remark.

The Rajya Sabha Chairman, Mr Krishan Kant, who was in the chair, was highly perturbed and asked Mr Nirupam to withdraw his remark and tender an apology. Mr Kant said, "The use of such a remark is not only an indignity to this House but to the entire country".

The Chairman said that the member had given a "bad name" to the House and the country by using this type of "bad language" and asked him to apologise failing which "action" would be taken.

Mr Nirupam, however, refused to withdraw his remarks saying, "I have not called any member of the House a Pakistani and thus committed no wrong".

"But Dilip Kumar has received Nishan-e-Pakistan, the highest award of that country, and he is a Pakistani", Mr Nirupam asserted.

This led to protests from opposition members belonging to the Congress, the Left parties and the Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha, forcing the Chairman to adjourn the House.

Noisy scenes were witnessed in the House as Mr Ravi got up to speak on the issue and its justification by the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Mr Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

The Congress Rajya Sabha member said that Dilip Kumar was well within his right to approach the Supreme Court with the public interest litigation (PIL) on the banning of ‘Fire’. Mr Ravi was also critical of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray for his remarks against Dilip Kumar and Shabana Azmi.

This provoked Mr Nirupam to get up and ask if there was anything wrong in Shiv Sainiks holding a silent demonstration. Mr Nirupam continued to interrupt the Congress member from time to time, ignoring the directive of the Chair to let Mr Ravi speak. This forced other members to their feet and object to the interruptions from the Shiv Sena member.

Opposition members also shouted "shame, shame" when Mr Ravi referred to Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting M. A. Naqvi’s reported defence of the demonstration by the Shiv Sena.

Mr Ravi said that the demonstration by the Shiv Sainiks was not in conformity with the traditions of a civilised society and added that the Shiv Sena chief had become ugly in his expressions.

Mr Ravi also pointed to the statement of Mr Thackeray that he would not allow the Pakistani cricket team to play in Mumbai and said that the Shiv Sena supremo was holding Mumbai metropolis to ransom by disrupting the public screening of the film. He said, " Mumbai is not a private property of any individual". This also evoked an applause from many Opposition members.

Mr Vijay Kumar Malhotra (BJP) objected to the statements of Mr Ravi and said that the Congress and the Left parties were in a habit of adopting double standards. He said his party would continue to oppose any attack on Hinduism and Indian cultural traditions.

Mr Malhotra said that he was not against what was shown in the film but the fact that the women in the film had been named as Sita and Radha who were revered all over the country. " By portraying Hindu womanhood in bad light and naming them after the worshipable Hindu religious personalities, the film makers have insulted the entire Hindu community."

Reacting to Mr Malhotra’s comment, Ms Azmi, who has acted in the film, said the name of her character in the film was "Neeta" and not "Sita" revered by Hindus.

At this, Mr Malhotra changed the track and pointed out that Congress and Left parties had also defended painter M.F. Hussain, who had painted Sita in the nude. He wondered whether it was a fashion to abuse Hindus and their culture.

The issue also figured in the Lok Sabha as the proceedings of the House were disrupted for sometime following similar remarks made by Shiv Sena MPs.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Madan Lal Khurana, said, "the Government did not consider Mr Dilip Kumar an anti-national.He is not a Pakistani". He assured the agitated members that the Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, would make a statement in the House tomorrow on the issue.

Raising the issue, Left party MPs, joined by the Congress, a former Minister, Mr Buta Singh, and others, demanded that the demonstration should be strongly condemned. They also wanted an apology from Shiv Sena MPs, Anant Gite and Prakash Paranjpe.

Meanwhile, opposition members in the Lok Sabha also condemned the demonstration by Shiv Sena outside the residence of Dilip Kumar for backing "Fire".

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Lal Khurana said in the Lower House, "The Government does not consider Kumar an anti-national. He is not a Pakistani".

Describing Dilip as a well respected man, Power Minister P R Kumaramangalam urged the Chair to expunge derogatory remarks against the actor.