Nitish, Lalu and BPCC chief criticise Giriraj's remark

PATNA: Senior leaders of JD(U), RJD and Congress on Wednesday cried foul over the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) minister Giriraj Singh's "white skinned" remark on Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and sought strict action against the minister. State Congress chief Ashok Choudhary also demanded immediate dismissal of Giriraj from union ministry.

While Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said that Giriraj's controversial statement raised a serious question on the mindset of ruling BJP at the centre, RJD president Lalu Prasad said the minister had crossed limits of indecency and his face should be blackened.

"The issue is not just about the person, who made such an unpleasant comment. It raises a serious question on mindset of the entire party and the government. This is not the first time that such objectionable statements have been made," CM said while reacting over Giriraj's remark.

"The comments are uncultured and reflect the mindset of the person. It is now clear that BJP rewards people who speak in such language," Nitish said while making oblique reference towards the phenomenal rise of Giriraj Singh to become a minister at the centre.

Demanding strict action against Giriraj, RJD chief Prasad said, "He should be made to wear bangles, vermilion, bindi, and his face should be blackened as he has crossed all limits of indecency."

Recalling that Giriraj had indulged in "highly racist" and controversial remarks earlier too by asking "those who did not vote for Narendra Modi should go to Pakistan", the RJD supremo asked BJP leadership to take "strict action" against the "loud-mouthed" minister.

Prasad also said, a few days ago the JD(U) president Sharad Yadav had made distasteful remarks in Parliament about women with dark complexion and there was an outcry against it across the country that he was forced to seek forgiveness. "The country should make a stringent law to punish people like Giriraj. Such comments shouldn't be taken lightly. There is democracy in country and the people here are so generous and gentle that they become satisfied with apologies, but this is not enough," the RJD chief said.

Reacting over Giriraj remark, BPCC chief Ashok Choudhary urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to oust "such disreputable" leader from the ministry. "Giriraj Singh has a habit of issuing controversial statements. He had also given very objectionable statements during the last Lok Sabha polls. He should be oust from the ministry immediately," Choudhary said.

http://ift.tt/1iX1KqG and medium enterprises,RJD,Micro,Congress

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