A calling attention motion on inflammatory speeches made by elected members set the tone for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election campaign scheduled in 2017. Former State chief minister and BSP supremo Mayawati lashed out both at the Centre and the State government for their failure to ensure law and order in Uttar Pradesh.

Citing an alleged inflammatory speech made by Minister of State in the HRD Ministry, Ram Shankar Katheria, in Agra, Mayawati said had it been her regime, she would have put Katheria behind bars for violating the Constitution.

Tacit understanding? She said the BJP is trying to create a situation like Muzaffarnagar riots before the 2017 elections, adding that the ruling Samajwadi Party and BJP are working hand-in-hand. She said it is primarily the duty of the State government to ensure law and order, and urged the Home Minister Rajnath Singh to take action against people who fan communal flames.

Earlier, initiating the debate, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Prime Minister had failed to take action against those MPs and Ministers of the BJP who have created a division in the society by making communal speeches.

“There are two standards for the BJP leadership. One for the party, and one for the government. For the government you would say sab ka saath sab ka vikaas , but for the party you would say chop the hands of opponents,” Azad said. He added that the BJP is planning to use weapons in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the elections.

In a passionate speech, D Raja, CPI MP, urged the BJP not to demean mother India. “My mother India does not differentiate between Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists,” he said.

Samajwadi Party MP Javed Ali Khan said though the BJP claimed that Katheria spoke at a memorial function on the murder of their activist Arun Mathur, the Minister and other speakers showed no such sensibilities. Khan said the SP government has given compensation to the members of Mathur’s families.

Rajnath defends govt Replying to the debate, the Home Minister said no one can change or challenge India’s secular traditions. “The government is opposed to all statements/speeches which divide the country on the basis of religion, caste and creed. This government is fully committed to the Constitution and the law of the land,” Rajnath Singh said. He said the Home Ministry found nothing objectionable in Katheria’s speech and ruled out any action against him.

“No objectionable contents against any particular community have been noticed in the speech. Accordingly, the news reports appear to be distorted and incorrect,” he added.

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