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Amid ruckus in LS, Giriraj Singh apologises for his remarks against Sonia Gandhi

by IBNS 19 Apr 2015, 09:32 pm

New Delhi, Apr 20 (IBNS): As the Congress targeted Giriraj Singh over his remarks against Sonia Gandhi, the Union Minister apologised for his comment in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

" I was not aiming to insult anyone. If my remarks have hurt anyone then I am apologising for it," Singh said in the Lok Sabha.

 The second session of the Budget Session of the Parliament resumed on a stormy note as the Congress on Monday raised the issue of comments made by Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and Union Minister Giriraj Singh and demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's apology over the issue.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia raised the 'racist' comment on Sonia Gandhi's skin colour made by Union Minister Giriraj Singh and said: "The comments insult every women in this country. The remarks also insult every Indian and Nigerians."

"We want the PM to apologise....We seek the resignation of such ministers and MPs," he said.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said: "The Prime Minister should speak on these issues."

Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said no one in government approved Giriraj Singh's remarks.

The Congress members later raised slogans over the issue and demanded for Singh's resignation.

Amid ruckus, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had adjourned the House till 11:45 am.

Singh had triggered a controversy as he said that if former Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi had married a Nigerian lady and not a white-skinned woman, then Congress would not have accepted her leadership.

Rajiv Gandhi had married Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi.

The second half of the Budget Session of the Parliament commenced from Monday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier said he expects to see  even higher standards of debate in this session of the Parliament.

"I am sure this leg of the session will witness even higher standards of debate to fulfil people's aspirations," Modi told reporters.

The second session of the Rajya Sabha will resume from Thursday.