NEW DELHI/PATNA: Yet another disparaging comment loaded with racial innuendo from BJP Bihar leader and Minister of State Giriraj Singh snowballed into a major controversy with the Congress demanding his resignation, plus an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi; and the Nigerian High Commissioner O B Okongor sharply reacting to the “unfortunate” development.
Talking to the media in Hajipur, some 20 km from Patna, Giriraj Singh quipped: “If Rajiv Gandhi had married some Nigerian lady, if she (Sonia Gandhi) wasn’t white, would the Congress party have given her its leadership?”
Not just that he was also seen laughing at his own joke as TV channels flashed the footage. Known for making offensive statements, Giriraj Singh, who was elected on a BJP ticket from Nawada, Bihar, had kicked up a storm during the 2014 campaign when he said that “people who do not support Modi, can go to Pakistan.”
With the racial innuendo he again crossed the civil limits and had to tender a quick apology that is in case he has “hurt the sentiments of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi”.
In the same media interaction, he had made some remarks about Rahul’s absence since the beginning of the Budget session of Parliament. “If the Congress was in power, if we weren’t in power, and if Rahulji was the Prime Minister, and for some reason the Prime Minister would disappear for 43 to 47 days, then what would have happened,” Giriraj Singh asked.
The “whole budget session is over”, he added, “But where is Rahulji? This is like the disappearance of the Malaysian airliner which has still not been found. The Congress is the opposition party and its leader is not in the budget session, no one knows, the Congress leadership is not prepared to say where he is.”
However, what stirred up the controversy was not his comments on Rahul, but the sexist, racial remarks he made against the Congress president.
Sharply reacting to Singh’s comments, CPM leader Brinda Karat said, “He’s a serial offender, against whom no action is taken by the BJP. The Prime Minister should break his silence, tender an apology, otherwise this would be seen as an endorsement of offensive racial views.”
The remark was offensive enough for the Nigerian Envoy Okongor to say that “the Minister is at the highest levels of government, it is unfortunate.” He also sought point out that “India, Nigeria has had long and close ties” and “such remarks not expected”. He also quietly added that the nature of the remark was such that he would have to bring it to the notice of his State.
The Congress, meanwhile, was visibly upset. Party’s media department chief Randeep Surjewala said: “It is obnoxious to say the least. We expect the Prime Minister to take action against his minister and apologise.”
Another former Congress minister R P N Singh said that it “only displays his (Giriraj Singh’s) mindset” and “it is to maintain the country’s image abroad, and to uphold our past legacy that the Prime Minister should against such errant ministers”.