Congress seeks VK Singh's apology for dog analogy, protests in Lok Sabha

Union Minister Gen VK Singh

New Delhi: Congress members in Lok Sabha on Wednesday demanded an apology from Union Minister VK Singh for his dog analogy and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi what action he plans to take against the minister.

As soon as the House met for the day, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, without specifying the subjects, said she has disallowed all notices of adjournment of Question Hour.

At this, Congress members rushed to the Well shouting slogans even as Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu suggested that a discussion on rain and floods in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh should be taken up first as an exception.

He said while the state government was doing its best, Parliament should show its support to the people of the state.

"Chennai is in neck deep water...Navy has been deployed ... The situation is precarious. Let us discuss it on priority," he said.

But the unrelenting Congress members continued to raise slogans against Singh demanding an apology.

Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge wanted to know the action the Prime Minister plans against Singh for his remarks. The PM was present in the House.

The Congress protest continued throughout the Question Hour which continued amidst the din.

The Speaker repeatedly urged Congress members to return to their seats saying the issue of intolerance has been discussed at length yesterday and the Home Minister has given a detailed reply.

However, the Congress members continued raising slogans in the Well as the Question Hour continued.

In October, Singh's remarks had triggered a controversy. When asked about an incident in a village in Haryana where a house was set ablaze leading to the death of two children of a Dalit family, the former Army chief had said: "Never associate local incidents with the central government. There is an inquiry going on. ... For everything...Like if somebody throws a stone at a dog, then the government is responsible ... It is not like that."