(Image source from: Smriti Irani’s apology)

Opposition parties has on today sought an apology from HRD minister Smriti Irani for reading out in Rajya Sabha “objectionable” comments against a god ‘Durga’, as she defended herself saying she was asked for proof of her statements against JNU students.

Deputy Leader of Congress in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma said that Irani had read out “insulting” comments made against Goddess Durga “verbatim” in the House hurting sentiments and sought a ruling from the Chair as to whether such comments made outside Parliament against any religious figure or a deity can be read out inside the House.

"The human resource development minister must apologize for her remark about Goddess Durga," Congress leader Anand Sharma said in the Rajya Sabha.

Irani remained unfazed by the criticism and asserted that she herself was a “practising hindu and a Durga worshipper”. "I myself am a practicing Hindu and a Durga worshipper. The documents I read (from) yesterday are officials documents from the university, these are not documents of the government," Irani said on Friday.

The HRD minister insisted that she had read out the comments from the authenticated documents from JNU as she was repeatedly being asked to explain what was the evidence against students accused of anti-national acts.

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad then said it is a “very serious issue” and the “minister should apologise for what she said yesterday.”

BJP members hit back at the Congress saying the opposition party was raising the issue due to the criticism of its Vice President Rahul Gandhi over his visit to JNU.

Minister of state for parliamentary affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi attacked the Congress and other opposition parties saying that it had become a pattern for them to seek a short-duration discussion, a couple of calling attention motions and an apology in every session, while showing no interest in legislative business.

By Premji