New Delhi: Amidst hullabaloo over a 'Mahishasur Martyrdom Day' pamphlet read out by Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani in Parliament, a report on Friday embarrassed the BJP by claiming that the event in question was attended by party MP Udit Raj in October 2013.


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Cornered by the Opposition over the recent incident in Jawaharlal Nehru University, Irani, while defending the government actions, referred to "Mahishasur Martyrdom Day" observed in JNU. She also read out a document on Mahishasur Puja, referring to the demon slain by the Goddess Durga, which she said came from JNU.


 


What could turn the BJP red with embarrassment is the confirmation by Delhi MP Udit Raj that he attended the event in October 2013.


Notably, the festival has been observed on the campus every October since 2011.


“I attended the Mahishasur festival because I believe that caste discrimination is bad. But I also attend other seminars at JNU. I am an alumnus of JNU,” ABP news quoted Raj as saying.


Meanwhile, Raj told ANI: “I was an activist that time but I changed. Only fools and dead men don't change their views".


He added that he has been to multiple events in 15 years all over the world. "It does not mean my views were identical to all the organisers."


 


As Irani read out a document on Mahishasur Puja in Rajya Sabha on Thursday, it created a huge uproar among the Opposition.


"When they went to JNU they wanted insult of gods and goddesses be within freedom of speech. What was the need for (Congress vice president) Rahul Gandhi to accept such insult of gods," Irani said amid ruckus in the House, leading to its adjournment for the day.