Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: Leaders of various political outfits cut across party lines on Wednesday to condemn Shiv Sena MPs for allegedly abusing and forcing a Muslim catering supervisor at the Maharashtra Sadan to break his Ramzan fast and eat a chapati.
Here are the some of the reactions:
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray: There was no intention to hurt anybody`s religious sentiments.
Veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani: What happened is not right. Even Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has spoken against it. I believe concerned MPs have apologised.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu: We don`t know the facts of the matter yet, let`s get the facts first.
Shiv Sena MP Rajan Vichare: The facilities aren`t proper at Maharashtra Sadan. Incident is being given a communal colour, must not do so. It is the same thing as going to a restaurant. If you are served bad food, won`t you call the manager and ask him to taste it? We did the same.
Congress leader Kamal Nath: It is extremely shameful, I have raised the issue in Parliament. This demonstrates Shiv Sena`s mindset.
Janata Dal (United) leader Ali Anwar: Since elections are due in Maharashtra, I feel that Shiv Sena MPs have done this with the intent to polarise the electorate. An FIR should be lodged against them and their membership must be cancelled.
CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury: We want a discussion in the Zero Hour and Parliament should clearly state that such acts won`t be tolerated. Until there is a national judicial commission there will be no answer to issues like this.
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy: Rage is something that should not be encouraged. It is my sincere hope that the speaker raises this issue in Parliament. This incident should not be ignored.
Congress leader Manish Tewari: The MPs should tender a public apology,there is no place for this kind of majoritarianism. It is absolutely reprehensible and should be condemned in the strongest possible manner.
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati: If there is any truth in this, the Central government must take strict action without any delay and arrest the MPs.
Congress leader Rashid Alvi: It is against the Constitution and secularism. The Parliament membership of the MPs should be cancelled.
Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal: The incident is highly condemnable but I know the government there won`t act on this, but they must.
Nationalist Congress Party leader Majid Memon: An investigation must take place in the case and strict action should be taken against people involved.
NCP general secretary Tariq Anwar: Shiv Sena isn`t a responsible party and it has always been a group of anti-social people.
Former health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad: It`s against the basic spirit of our Constitution. You can`t force someone.
