The BJP has warned its lawmakers against making provocative statements
In the middle of a fiery debate in Parliament on perceived "intolerance" in the country, the ruling BJP today warned its lawmakers against speaking out of turn and diverting attention from the government's development agenda.
Here are 10 developments in the story:
At a meeting this morning attended by BJP chief Amit Shah, BJP lawmakers were "told not to make provocative statements as they divert attention from PM Modi's development agenda," said union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
Sources say union minister Venkaiah Naidu asked lawmakers not to make provocative statements and fall into the opposition's "trap".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who returned this morning from the Paris Climate Summit, is expected to reply to a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the Constitution, which has seen sparring between the government and the opposition.
In the Lok Sabha, on day two of the "intolerance" debate, the opposition's offensive is likely to feature Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
During the debate, the BJP's Kirron Kher accused the Congress of the same intolerance that the party is now campaigning against. "You are the intolerant ones...for 65 years this country has tolerated misrule and corruption...If the country tolerated it for so many years then we can tolerate anything," said the actor-lawmaker.
Congress lawmaker and former union minister Shashi Tharoor targeted PM Modi, wondering "where has his voice gone" after becoming Prime Minister. "Has he forgotten the politics of taking everyone along after becoming prime minister?" Mr Tharoor questioned.
Supriya Sule of the Nationalist Congress Party also took on the government and said: "It is time to rise and clarify your stand. If so many people are returning awards then you need to introspect."
Incidents like the killing of rationalists, mob attacks over cow slaughter and beef-eating rumours and controversial pronouncements by members of the BJP or groups linked to it have been held up by opposition parties as examples of growing intolerance under the current regime.
A number of writers, artistes and filmmakers have returned their national awards to protest against what they believe is PM Modi's inadequate response to these incidents.
There were repeated adjournments in the Lok Sabha yesterday after Left parliamentarian Mohd Salim accused the Home Minister of saying, after Narendra Modi and BJP's election victory last year, that India had the first "Hindu ruler after 800 years." The quote was wrongly attributed to Mr Singh by Outlook magazine, which has apologised.
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