Updated
New Delhi, Dec 2 (DHNS): Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti on Tuesday expressed regret and apologized for her controversial remarks in Parliament.
The Opposition party created a ruckus in both the Houses of Parliament over the controversy, forcing repeated adjournments. The Congress party even demanded her resignation.
Jyoti's apology comes reprotedly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's warning to the BJP leaders against "making public comments out of turn" during a meeting with MPs on Tuesday morning.
Jyoti triggered a controversy while addressing a gathering in New Delhi by using abusive language.
As soon as Lok Sabha met for the day, Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge reminded Speaker Sumitra Mahajan of the adjournment notices given by him and his party colleagues over the reported statements of the two ministers.
The Speaker rejected the notices saying though the matter is of urgent importance, the business of the day cannot be allowed to be disrupted. She, however, suggested that members can raise the issue during Zero Hour.
Kharge said the "objectionable" language used by Jyoti has created tension at a time when there have been communal riots.
Several Congress and Trinamool Congress members rushed to the Well shouting slogans.
Congress members were heard demanding apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The issue being raised by Trinamool Congress could not, however, be heard in the din.
Though the House took up two questions during Question Hour, the continuous pandemonium forced Mahajan to adjourn the House for 15 minutes till 11.30 AM.
While Jyoti was present in the Lok Sabha, Giriraj Singh could not be seen. Both the ministers had made certain controversial statements yesterday.
Earlier Report
BJP minister uses expletives while campaigning, draws flak
New Delhi, Dec 2 (Agencies): A newly inducted Minister of State in the Narendra Modi government has kicked off a controversy while addressing a gathering in New Delhi embarrassing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
MOS for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti was caught using abusive language, besides claiming that everyone including Muslims and Christians are sons of Ram. She said those who don't believe in this ideology, do not belong to India, while campaigning for the BJP, according to a CNN IBN report.
Questioning voters about their preference of leaders, who would govern them, she asked "Do you want a government of Ramzaadon (followers of Ram) or (those who are illegitimate-born)?," according to NDTV.
A defiant Jyoti also defended her statements saying she was targeting the separatist and anti-national forces and people who indulge in plundering the wealth of the nation and stashing money abroad.
The minister also took digs at Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son-in-law Robert Vadra, who has been accused of involvement in controversial land deals. "The son of an ordinary family, who sold utensils - Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law - how did this man become a millionaire? They robbed the poor," she said.
"The Prime Minister should give an explanation and remove this minister," the Congress said in the Rajya Sabha.
The 47-year-old saffron-robed Niranjan Jyoti joined the Modi government as a minister of state for food processing on November 9. Known for her religious discourses, the Sadhvi is a first-time MP from Uttar Pradesh. She is among the six BJP MPs drafted into the party's campaign for the Delhi polls due early next year.
When reporters asked her about the abusive remarks, she was defiant. "What else do you call people who loot the nation...those who steal from the people and stash it in foreign banks? You tell me what we should call them," she said.
Meanwhile, Jyoti's expletives in her speech while seeking vote for her party, has provided additional ammunitions to the opposition leaders to attack the BJP in view of the upcoming assembly elections in Delhi.
The opposition raised it in Parliament today and demanded the sacking of Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti for the use of foul language.
Her poor choice of words is circulating on social media with hashtags that include #abusiveminister and has been seized by the opposition.
"This will be raised in both houses of Parliament. The BJP should arrange lessons in proper language and conduct for its ministers," said Congress leader Rajiv Shukla.
"This is the real character of the BJP. Their using such language shows how they are working," said Manish Sisodia, a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party.
Congress leader Mukesh Sharma said, "The Modi government has added a new person who is very senior and has blessed the people of Delhi with her great words. There can be nothing worse than what she said. She must apologize to the people of Delhi."
"Using such language shows the class of the BJP and its Ministers," said Aam Aadmi Party leader Mayank Gandhi on his Twitter handle.