M A I N   N E W S

War of quotations in RS
RSS issue rocks Parliament
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, March 1 — The controversial RSS issue continued to rock Parliament for the fifth day with the Lok Sabha adjourning without transacting any business while the Rajya Sabha witnessed uproarious scenes during discussion on the issue before being adjourned ahead of schedule.

In the Lok Sabha, the Congress and Opposition MPs stalled proceedings on two occasions as they continued to demand that the discussion on Gujarat government’s circular permitting its employees to take part in RSS activities be under Rule 184 which permits voting and not under Rule 193 as allowed by the Speaker.

LUCKNOW: As the controversy over the RSS issue continued to create furore in Parliament, the ABVP, BJP’s student wing, said on Wednesday that it proposed to hold RSS “shakhas” (training classes) for students in Lucknow University campus.

In Rajya Sabha, which resumed discussion on the failure of the Government to prevail upon the Gujarat government withdrawing its circular regarding its employees joining the RSS, members from both the Opposition and the BJP were agitated on remarks made during the debate.

First, there was turmoil over the Law Minister Ram Jethmalani’s remark about Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination which forced an unusual 15 minutes adjournment to allow the Deputy Chairperson, Dr Najma Heptulla to hear the recording for clarification.

Then it was the turn of the BJP MPs, who protested vociferously after Congress MP, Mr Kapil Sibal read out a quote attributed to RSS founder K.B. Hegdewar.

Led by Mr T.N. Chaturvedi, BJP members objected when Mr Sibal attributed a quote while outlining the ideology of the RSS on issues like martyrdom, minorities, national flag, imperialism and patriotism.

Mr Sibal’s read out from a book whose publisher was identified later. BJP MPs including Mr Ramdas Aggarwal and Mr Narendra Mohan took strong objection to it stating that Mr Sibal had misled the House in the first place by stating the quotation was from a RSS publication when it was from a book by an organisation which had Left-party leanings.

The Chairperson adjourned the House after the debate became acrimonious with the BJP MPs insisting Mr Sibal should apologise while the later said he had the right to quote from a publication that was not banned. Mr Chaturvedi also suggested that the Chair should adjourn for a brief while and check the record to straighten it out again.

The Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani who was present throughout the discussion made interventions and said that for people associated with the RSS, the quote by Mr Sibal was ‘outrageous’ and naturally his party colleagues were agitated.

He also clarified the RSS position on patriotism.

Earlier, Mr Jethmalani who intervened in the discussion said Gandhiji was killed by those who consented to the partition of the country. He said that Gandhiji had said that if the country was divided, his body would be found floating in the Arabian Sea and added that the Mahatma Gandhi’s spirit was killed by those who consented to partition.

Members belonging to the Congress were up on their feet contesting the remarks stating that it hinted at its leaders. Mr Jethmalani said he stood by what he said but if said what the members thought he had then would apologise.

Mr Pranab Mukherjee of the Congress said the House should be adjourned straightaway to enable Dr Heptulla to listen to the recording and set the record straight. Mr Advani pleaded that the records should be examined later as was the practice.

However, the Chairperson ruled that she was inclined to adjourn the House to check the record since proceedings were being televised or written much before the records were straightened. Later she said what Mr Jethmalani said had to be taken in totality.