NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi refused to apologise after Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for half-an-hour on Friday following protests by BJP members over his reported remarks about rape in the country.
Calling the BJP protests as an attempt to divert attention from the situation in the Northeast, Rahul said. "I have a clip on my phone in which Narendra Modi ji is calling Delhi a 'rape capital',"
Rahul Gandhi: I have a clip on my phone in which Narendra Modi ji is calling Delhi a 'rape capital',will tweet it so that everyone can see. Just to deflect attention from protests in North East, this is being made an issue by BJP. https://t.co/BF4toNRaO8 pic.twitter.com/4wRWTZy4Np
— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2019
BJP members, including ministers, demanded that Gandhi apologise for his remarks, which they said was shameful for the country's women.
Many members from the ruling party stood in the aisle, raising slogans.
Congress members were also in the aisle.
The issue was raised by the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal after the Lok Sabha Speaker paid tributes to the security personnel who sacrificed their lives in the December 13, 2001 Parliament attack when the House assembled for the day.
Meghwal said Rahul Gandhi mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make in India" slogan calling it "Rape in India". "Is he inviting people to rape in India? What does his mean? It is shameful. He should apologies to the people of the country."
Following which, BJP member and West Bengal MP Locket Chatterjee hit out at Gandhi condemning his statement. "Does Rahul Gandhi want people to rape women in India? Come rape us. Is this his thinking?"
Union Minister Smriti Irani said it has happened first time in the history of India that an MP has been inviting people to come and rape "Indian women".
"The son of Gandhi family is calling people to rape women."
Gandhi made the controversial "Rape in India" remark during a public rally in Jharkhand's Godda district on Thursday aiming to highlight crimes against women under Prime Minister Modi's regime. He said Modi's pet project "Make in India" was nowadays more like "Rape in India".
All the women BJP members gathered at one side sloganeering "Rahul Gandhi Mafi Mango (Rahul Gandhi apologies), "We want justice". The opposition also stood on their seat rejecting the allegations against Gandhi sloganeering against the Centre.
Gandhi, too was seen inside the House. He had reached following one of the adjournments and television visuals caught him smiling even as the uproar continued.
Amid the din, Speaker Om Birla adjourned the proceedings of the House around 1130 am for half-an-hour.
(With PTI inputs)