Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti Must be Fired for Hate Speech, Says Opposition: 10 Developments

Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, sworn-in last month as minister of state, had used an expletive at a public meeting as she said, "People of Delhi have to decide if they want a government of Ramzaadon (followers of Ram) or a government of those who are illegitimate."

Initially she seemed defiant, but a howl of protests in Parliament forced Ms Jyoti to apologise in both houses, saying, "It was not my intention to offend anybody. I express regret from my heart and withdraw my words."

The apology came shortly after reports that the Prime Minister had at a BJP meeting on Tuesday morning warned party MPs not to speak out of turn. "There will be no compromise on this," he reportedly cautioned the MPs without taking names.

In Parliament, opposition parties demanded an explanation from PM Modi on his ministers' conduct. They protested not only against Ms Jyoti's comments but also those made by another new minister Giriraj Singh at a different rally in Delhi, comparing Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal to a mythical demon.

Ms Jyoti's apology, the opposition parties said, was not enough. They demanded that PM Modi remove his minister and that criminal charges be framed against her.

CPM leader Sitaram Yechury accused Ms Jyoti of breaking the law by "creating communal divide amongst different groups." He also said, "She has committed an offence...and till an investigation is over, she can't remain a minister. Her apology is an admission of her crime."

In the Rajya Sabha, Mr Yechury sparred with Finance Minister and leader of House Arun Jaitley, who said, "The minister concerned has apologized, expressed regret. I would urge the House to allow the proceedings of the House to continue," adding, "You can't use proceedings of the House to start an investigation."

Talking to reporters, Ms Sadhvi said her comments did not have communal overtones. She also emphasised that she had apologised in both Houses of Parliament and asked, "what else can I do?"

"Please grant the PM a visa to come to this House," said Derek O'Brien of the Trinamool Congress as other parties too questioned PM Modi's absence in Parliament as such a big controversy rocked it. The BJP's Muqtar Abbas Naqvi said, "The Opposition can't decide when and where the PM will speak."

The 47-year-old saffron-robed Niranjan Jyoti is the junior minister for food processing. Known for her religious discourses, the Sadhvi is a first-time MP from Uttar Pradesh and among the six BJP MPs drafted into the party's campaign for the Delhi polls due early next year.