NEW DELHI: A storm over Minority Affairs Minister A.R. Antulay’s comments on killing of Anti-Terrorist Squad chief Hemant Karkare in Mumbai terror strikes yesterday rocked both Houses of Parliament, leading to their repeated adjournments.
Even after Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in the Rajya Sabha, that the government would make a statement on the issue today, the opposition members continued to shout slogans demanding Antulay’s dismissal.
Legislators belonging to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena repeatedly trooped into the well, shouting slogans against Antulay and demanding his resignation. Though Antulay handed in his resignation last week, till yesterday Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had not accepted it.
In the Rajya Sabha, M. Venkaiah Naidu described Antulay’s remarks as “anti-national” and “ridiculous.” With political parties unanimous on tackling terrorism, Antulay’s remarks were harming the country, Naidu said. “The entire nation is agitated as to why such a statement was made by the minister. He may have some personal view which should have been made in cabinet,” Naidu said.
