A volcano of heated debate erupted during the Rajya Sabha session over the lynching issue when Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal linked all Hindu Gods with the names of alcohol brands.
Naresh Yadav, indirectly targeting the BJP, was referring to an incident just after the Babri Masjid issue saying that when he visited a school which was converted into a jail for the BJP leaders under detention, he saw a graffiti over a wall where figures of Hindu Gods were drawn and were linked to different alcohol brands. Objecting to this BJP leader Bhupendra Yadav immediately demanded an apology from Naresh for making such statement and hurting the feelings of Hindus.
Then Parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar took up the issue and asked Naresh to apologise but SP leaders said that Naresh did not need to apologise. Ram Gopal Verma pointed out referring to an incident that a Union Minister had made a remark about a Hindu goddess during a debate on the agitation in Jawaharlal Nehru University but he was not asked for an apology then why should Naresh apologise for making any statement like this? Arun Jaitley Intervened saying that had Naresh made such comment outside the house he would be liable to prosecution.
Deputy chairperson PJ Kurien had to adjourn the House twice before Naresh Agarwal apologised saying that “I take back my words if it has hurt anybody’s sentiments.” Parliamentary affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi accused the opposition of deliberately adding fuel to the issue in spite of PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister giving a statement against the lynching and saying that strict actions will be taken against anyone killing the masses behind the disguise of cow vigilance. He urged the opposition not to give it a communal colour to the issue. Lynching is purely a case of crime and by giving it a communal colour it will only strengthen those who want to make it a communal issue.
Regarding the cow vigilance, the united opposition has demanded a separate legislation to protect victims of cow vigilantism and mob lynching. They want a Manav Suraksha Kanoon (Masuka), a legislation framed by civil society. Congress MPs Digvijaya Singh and Shashi Tharoor, MB Rajesh (CPM), Sanjay Singh (AAP), RJD’s Manoj Jha, JDU’s Pawan Verma, as well as NCP, SP and BSP have supported Masuka. If the government does not agree, they may bring it as a private member’s bill.