Chandigarh Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of insulting Hindus during his speech in the Lok Sabha and demanded that he and the Congress apologize to the people of the country.
Saini also said that several Congress leaders are trying to justify Gandhi's speech when they should help him improve his knowledge and advise him not to lower his parliamentary dignity.
"He has insulted Hindus. He has told lies... He always defames Hindus... I strongly condemn him," Saini said during a press conference, criticizing Gandhi.
In his first speech as opposition leader in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Gandhi launched an all-out attack on the BJP, accusing the ruling party leaders of dividing the people on communal lines.
Saini said Gandhi called Hindus violent and hatemongers in Parliament and this allegation is "unfortunate".
Attacking the senior Congress leader, he said: "It is his frustration coming out from within. For the kind of words he has used, he and the Congress should apologize to the people of the country."
"He did not say a word about the president's speech. He only said lies and nothing more," Saini said.
"In his speech he insulted Hindus, calling them violent, hateful and liars," the Prime Minister said, adding that the Congress is trying to justify what he has said.
Congress leaders should, instead, help Gandhi improve his knowledge and make him understand that he should not undermine parliamentary dignity, he added.
He said the Congress has repeatedly launched Gandhi, but the public has rejected him as a leader.
The way he repeatedly displayed the image of Lord Shiva in Parliament is totally objectionable, Saini said.
Criticizing Gandhi and the Congress for the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, Saini asked, "What did the Congress do in 1984? Have they forgotten the hatred they spread?"
He also raised the issue of violence against Kashmiri Pandits in the Kashmir Valley during the Congress regime, adding, "Was the Congress blindfolded at that time and in 1984?"
He also questioned why Gandhi remained silent on various incidents in West Bengal and accused him of spreading lies by saying that no compensation is given to Agniveers who are martyrs.
Saini further alleged that the Congress tried to mislead the people on various issues, including farmers' issues, during the recent Lok Sabha elections.
He demanded that Gandhi publish a white paper with all the measures taken by the Congress government for the welfare of farmers in the last 55 to 60 years of his rule, he said.
Gandhi is now the leader of the opposition, so he should think before speaking and now change his behavior, Saini said.
Gandhi's speech in the Lok Sabha on Monday sparked massive protests from the treasury benches, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized him for calling the entire Hindu community violent.
The Congress leader was speaking during the debate on the motion of thanks for the President's address in a joint session of Parliament.
Holding photographs of Lord Shiva, Guru Nanak and Jesus Christ, he referred to Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism and Jainism to underline the importance of bravery.
He also cited the attributes of Lord Shiva and the teachings of Guru Nanak, Jesus Christ, Buddha and Mahavir to state that all religions and great people of the country have said "daro mat, darao mat (don't be scared, don't scare others). )".
Saini also said that several Congress leaders are trying to justify Gandhi's speech when they should help him improve his knowledge and advise him not to lower his parliamentary dignity.
"He has insulted Hindus. He has told lies... He always defames Hindus... I strongly condemn him," Saini said during a press conference, criticizing Gandhi.
In his first speech as opposition leader in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Gandhi launched an all-out attack on the BJP, accusing the ruling party leaders of dividing the people on communal lines.
Saini said Gandhi called Hindus violent and hatemongers in Parliament and this allegation is "unfortunate".
Attacking the senior Congress leader, he said: "It is his frustration coming out from within. For the kind of words he has used, he and the Congress should apologize to the people of the country."
"He did not say a word about the president's speech. He only said lies and nothing more," Saini said.
"In his speech he insulted Hindus, calling them violent, hateful and liars," the Prime Minister said, adding that the Congress is trying to justify what he has said.
Congress leaders should, instead, help Gandhi improve his knowledge and make him understand that he should not undermine parliamentary dignity, he added.
He said the Congress has repeatedly launched Gandhi, but the public has rejected him as a leader.
The way he repeatedly displayed the image of Lord Shiva in Parliament is totally objectionable, Saini said.
Criticizing Gandhi and the Congress for the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, Saini asked, "What did the Congress do in 1984? Have they forgotten the hatred they spread?"
He also raised the issue of violence against Kashmiri Pandits in the Kashmir Valley during the Congress regime, adding, "Was the Congress blindfolded at that time and in 1984?"
He also questioned why Gandhi remained silent on various incidents in West Bengal and accused him of spreading lies by saying that no compensation is given to Agniveers who are martyrs.
Saini further alleged that the Congress tried to mislead the people on various issues, including farmers' issues, during the recent Lok Sabha elections.
He demanded that Gandhi publish a white paper with all the measures taken by the Congress government for the welfare of farmers in the last 55 to 60 years of his rule, he said.
Gandhi is now the leader of the opposition, so he should think before speaking and now change his behavior, Saini said.
Gandhi's speech in the Lok Sabha on Monday sparked massive protests from the treasury benches, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized him for calling the entire Hindu community violent.
The Congress leader was speaking during the debate on the motion of thanks for the President's address in a joint session of Parliament.
Holding photographs of Lord Shiva, Guru Nanak and Jesus Christ, he referred to Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism and Jainism to underline the importance of bravery.
He also cited the attributes of Lord Shiva and the teachings of Guru Nanak, Jesus Christ, Buddha and Mahavir to state that all religions and great people of the country have said "daro mat, darao mat (don't be scared, don't scare others). )".
