Speaker Om Birla Suggests Holi is more Important than 48 Lives Lost in Delhi's Riots?

New Delhi, March 4, 2020:

Is the festival of Holi more important than a discussion on the Delhi riots that took place in the aftermath of the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act? Lok Sabha Speaker and senior BJP leader Om Birla certainly seems to think so.

ALSO READ: People’s Leader Akhil Gogoi Unable to Meet Wife in Jail due to Deteriorating Health

Addressing the Lower House amid deafening ruckus, Speaker Birla said on Tuesday, "Aapne charcha maangi aur sarkar charcha ko taiyar hai…. Holi ka achchha parv manaiye. Shauhard-purn tarike se desh me charcha hona chahiye. Aapbhi Holi manaeeye, sab Holi manayen (You asked for a discussion and the government is ready for discussion…. Celebrate well the festival of Holi. There should be a discussion in the country in a harmonious manner. You celebrate Holi, all celebrate Holi),”.

ALSO READ: “History will Never Forgive You”: Singer Manas Robin Appeals Assam CM to Immediately Arrange Akhil Gogoi’s Treatment

This statement was decried by members of the opposition who have condemned the Government for its treatment of the violent protests, which left many dead.

Earlier in the day, when the House met at 11am, the Opposition Congress, DMK, Left and Trinamul pointed out that they had submitted adjournment motions and wanted the House to immediately take up a discussion on the Delhi riots.

However, the Speaker's statement further provoked the members and they later some were spotted paper balls at the chair and the House was adjourned for the day.

Similarly, the Rajya Sabha also saw similar scenes transacted little business for the second day on Tuesday as Opposition members kept demanding an immediate discussion on the riots but the government and Chairman Venkaiah Naidu repeated their stand of restoring normality first.

It may be mentioned

Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.