Row over missing name: Gadkari apologises to Scindia

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday apologised to Jyotiraditya Scindia in the Lok Sabha after the Congress leader complained that he was not invited to a function organised in his constituency recently to inaugurate a four-lane national highway in Madhya Pradesh.

The Congress MP from Guna also complained that a plaque carrying his name was also removed from the spot while serving a notice for a privilege motion against Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh and his officials on the issue.

Scindia raised the issue in the Lok Sabha as soon as the Zero Hour began, demanding a reply from Gadkari, the Union road and transport minister, who attended the inauguration ceremony on July 23.

The Congress leader told the House that the project worth Rs 3,900 crore in Madhya Pradesh was sanctioned by the erstwhile UPA government.

“I am moving a privilege motion. It's throttling of democracy when a Member of Parliament is insulted in such a manner,” he said.

In his response, Gadkari told members that he was aware of the matter, saying it should not have happened.

“I am a minister. I take the responsibility. It's true that his name was not there. I apologise on behalf of everybody and next time it will not happen,” Gadkari said.

Gadkari said that he came to know about it from a Congress member of the state Legislative Assembly and asked the district collector as to why Scindia was not invited to the function.

“He (the collector) said that it was conveyed to him when contacted over phone, that Scindia did not have time to spare for the event. It's ok. But, his (Scindia) name should have been there. I apologise for this,” Gadkari said.

Scindia, joined by other Congress members, however, remained unconvinced. Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge demanded Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to take a tough stand on the issue so that parliamentarians are not insulted in future in such a manner.

As Scindia continued raising the demand urging the Speaker to provide protection to him, Mahajan sought to calm down the Congress leader, saying, “Gadkariji has already apologised. It's his greatness. It's over. "Sanrakshan lathh leke dun kya?" (Should I use a baton to provide protection?).

Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar intervened and said that the matter should not be politicised as Gadkari had already apologised.

“How many MPs were invited (to such events) during UPA regime?” Tomar asked.