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Rajnath Singh Says Nothing Inflammatory In Katheria's Agra Speech

Rajnath Singh Says Nothing Inflammatory In Katheria's Agra Speech
NEW DELHI, INDIA - FEBRUARY 29: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrives for attending the Parliament Budget Session ahead of the release of the budget at Parliament House on February 29, 2016 in New Delhi, India. Presenting his third Union Budget, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced a slew of schemes, and income tax exemptions for small tax-payer and the small investors. Aiming to double farmersâ income by 2022, the minister also announced an allocation of nearly Rs. 36,000 crore for the farm sector while raising the agri-credit target to Rs. 9 lakh crore for the next fiscal. Growth of Indian Economy accelerated to 7.6% in 2015-16. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
NEW DELHI, INDIA - FEBRUARY 29: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrives for attending the Parliament Budget Session ahead of the release of the budget at Parliament House on February 29, 2016 in New Delhi, India. Presenting his third Union Budget, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced a slew of schemes, and income tax exemptions for small tax-payer and the small investors. Aiming to double farmersâ income by 2022, the minister also announced an allocation of nearly Rs. 36,000 crore for the farm sector while raising the agri-credit target to Rs. 9 lakh crore for the next fiscal. Growth of Indian Economy accelerated to 7.6% in 2015-16. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Responding to the opposition’s demand for an explanation from the government over union minister Ram Shankar Katheria’s controversial comments at a prayer meeting in Agra last week, home minister Rajnath Singh said that there was nothing inflammatory in his speech.

“We have watched the CD of the event and closely examined Katheria’s speech. After that we have concluded that there was nothing inflammatory in his speech. The police has already registered an FIR against three people who participated in that meeting. Katheria has not said anything to ignite tension,” Singh told the parliament.

At a condolence meeting held on Sunday for murdered Vishwa Hindu Parishad activist Arun Mahuar in Agra in which Katheria participated, Muslims were reportedly likened to ‘demons’ and ‘descendants of Ravana’ while the speakers urged Hindus to ‘corner and destroy the demons’.

Katheria had allegedly said, referring to the murder of Mahuar by some Muslim youths, that there has been a conspiracy against Hindus and that the community should fight it.

“All this is happening to the youth in this country, the conspiracies against the Hindu community...We will have to get strong and fight this conflict...Today, one Arun has died, tomorrow another Arun will die...before the second Arun dies (his) killers should go," Katheria had reportedly said.

Following the controversy, the parliament session was disrupted on Tuesday as the opposition parties demanded the resignation of Katheria for making inflammatory comments.

In response, Katheria had denied of saying anything controversial.

"What has been published in one of the newspapers is false. I had not taken the name of any community. I had said that the culprits, who had murdered the VHP leader, should be given death sentence. I had also said that the Hindu community should unite for their safety. I will send a notice to the newspaper," he had said.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.