SP leader links Hindu gods, alcohol

Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Naresh Agrawal’s controversial remarks on Hindu gods and alcohol triggered uproar in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

The remarks resulted in two adjournments and the House could resume business only after he expressed regret. Agrawal made the comment while participating in a discussion on the ‘rising incidents of lynching and atrocities on minorities and Dalits across the country’. Soon after his comment, ruling members were up in arms saying Agrawal had hurt religious sentiments of the majority of people and that this, too, was “lynching”.

Taking strong objection to Agrawal’s remarks, Leader of the House and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, “He has linked each of the Hindu gods with brands of alcohol. If he had said this outside, he would have been liable to prosecution. You have not realised the gravity of what you have said. Do you have the audacity to say this about other Gods?”

As the House witnessed two adjournments, Agrawal later said he did not intend to hurt anyone’s sentiments. “If someone has been hurt, I express my regret,” the SP leader said.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said the controversial part of Agrawal’s remarks had been expunged and asked the media to guard against using these.