IndiaPost.com - Fernandes condemned for remarks against PM

NEW DELHI: NDA Convener George Fernandes was in the eye of a storm in Parliament over his reported remarks against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh which the treasury benches alleged was an "incitement to terrorists" against the head of the government and demanded his arrest.

In Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi condemned Fernandes' statement against Singh in which he reportedly said if it was China, they would have shot him in the head by a bullet. He demanded an apology or its withdrawal by the former Defense Minister.

Several Ministers, including P Chidambaram, Saifuddin Soz, B K Handique, members from the ruling coalition as also the Left were seen agitated against Fernandes, who was present in the House and appeared to be smiling.

"It is an incitement to terrorists and extremists and a provocation. He should either apologize or withdraw the statement. "Either he is mentally sound or not. If he is not then we have nothing to say, if he is then the Government condemns the statement.

The Leader of Opposition (L K Advani) should also condemn the statement," Dasmunsi said. Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, while saying that he could not compel a member to tender an apology as the statement was not made in the House, observed that it was "unbecoming" of a member to have made such a remark against the highest dignitary of the country who should be properly respected. Chatterjee observed that the House and the country should decide the matter in view of "silence" of Fernandes. As the din continued, Chatterjee adjourned the House.

The Rajya Sabha too was plunged into acrimonious scenes after Congress members vehemently protested against the "insulting" remarks. Congress members were on their feet soon after the Question Hour when Praveen Rashtrapal said that the "Prime Minister of this country has been insulted by a member of the other House".

He was joined by several other Congress members who waved a newspaper clipping containing the remarks of Fernandes against the Prime Minister. While commenting on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Fernandes was reported to have said that the Prime Minister has "betrayed the nation by continuous bluffing... And if it were China, they would have settled it with one bullet in his head".

This remarks angered the Congress members who demanded the arrest of Fernandes. Shantaram Laxman Naik (Cong) asked Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who was present in the House, that an FIR be lodged against the former Defense Minister. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachouri said that the entire House should condemn the remarks.

While the Congress members almost trooped into the well, BJP members shouted slogans against the treasury benches. Chairman Hamid Ansari called Leader of Opposition Jaswant Singh to raise his Zero Hour mention but his efforts to restore calm failed to yield results and he adjourned the House.