New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday came out in defence of Minister of State for Human Resource Development (HRD) Ram Shankar Katheria, who stirred a controversy by making an alleged hate speech against Muslims at a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) event in Agra.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, the Home Minister said that there was nothing inflammatory in the speech made by Katheria at the VHP meeting, which was held to pay tribute to VHP worker Arun Mahaur, who was allegedly killed by Muslim youth.
“I heard Ram Shankar Katheria’s speech, made others hear it. We all agreed there is nothing inflammatory in the speech,” Singh said in Rajya Sabha.
He further said that subject like communal harmony should not be measured in terms of political gain or loss.
“It should only be measured in terms of justice and humanity,” he added.
Katheria and BJP MP from Fatehpur Sikri, Babu Lal, had drawn major flak after a leading daily reported that they had witnessed a VHP event, in which Muslims were described as ‘Rakshasas’ and were warned of a ‘final battle’. The article published in the daily yesterday, also accuses them of making hate speeches.
Meanwhile, Katheria, on his part, rubbished the reports published in a leading daily. He claimed that he had not targeted any community in his speech.