Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament today for his "silence" on the incidents of perceived intolerance in the country. "Today in India, protest means sedition," he said.
Speaking on the discussion in Lok Sabha on "the situation arising out of incidents of intolerance in the country", Mr Gandhi said PM Modi not only remained silent after the lynching incident in Dadri but has also allowed Gen VK Singh to continue as a minister despite his insensitive remarks.
"The ultimate responsibility for his protection is with the Prime Minister who remained silent," the Congress leader said in the Lok Sabha, referring to the victim of the Dadri incident, Mohammed Akhlaq - who was allegedly killed by a mob who suspected him of eating beef.
Mr Gandhi was interrupted by BJP members, when he alleged Union Minister and former Army chief Gen V K Singh had compared two Dalit children, who were burnt to death in Haryana's Faridabad in October, to dogs. "Gen VK Singh likened Dalit children to dogs but the PM allows him to continue as minister as if nothing happened," he said. The minister was not present in the House.
"Ambedkar spent his entire life ....and wrote the constitution so that the two children are not burnt. The prime minister is unable to see this contradiction," he said, amid cries of "shame" from the opposition benches.
"I request the government, please do not learn the wrong lessons from Pakistan. Be tolerant. Listen to your people, embrace your own people...Pakistan became a failure because their leaders crushed voices of their people," the Amethi MP said.