By IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, 19 Sep 2015: After a comparatively long spell of lull in the saffron camp of hatemongering – it is believed the spate of hate speeches was halted at the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi – a member of the Modi cabinet has now started spitting venoms. A little known Union culture minister called Mahesh Sharma seems to have assumed the role of known faces of BJP like Yogi Adityanath and Sakshi Maharaj who in the past have landed in controversy for hate remarks.
“I don’t think Aurangzeb was an ideal person. Only a source of inspiration can be inspirational. Aurangzeb Road has been named after such a great man who, despite being a Muslim, was a nationalist and a humanist, A P J Abdul Kalam. The road has been named after him,” said Mahesh Sharma in an interview to India Today TV.
In an earlier interview, Sharma had made a controversial remark about Quran and Bible.
“Gita and Ramayana reflect India’s soul. But we also respect Quran and would include best thoughts from it. I respect Bible and Quran but they are not central to soul of India in the way as Gita and Ramayana are. As India’s cultural minister, I recommend that Ramayana and Gita should be part of our school curriculum and I am working extensively with HRD Minister Smriti Irani towards this,” Sharma had said.
Sharma is making these controversial statements when the process for Assembly polls in Bihar has started. The first phase of polling will be held on 12th Oct.
There is an outrage over his hate remarks.
Congress said BJP-led NDA government is dividing people.
Commenting on the minister’s remarks that “Kalam was a nationalist and a humanist despite being Muslim”, Congress general secretary Shakeel Ahmed said thousands of Muslims fought for the country’s independence and hundreds of them even died fighting for it.
Also Read: Police complaint filed against union minister Mahesh Sharma for ‘hate speech’
“I am a Muslim and I am also a patriot. My father and grandfather were also patriot and we are practicing Islam for many generations,” he said, while terming Sharma’s remark as senseless. He said that people like Sharma ruling the country was a cause of concern.
Strongly condemning Sharma’s comments All India Majlis-e Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi has demanded his dismissal for “suspecting” the nationalism of 17 crore Indian Muslims.
“It is a travesty that even after 69 years of independence of this great nation, we have a minister in the Modi cabinet who is suspecting my nationalism,” Owaisi was quoted by Economic Times as saying.
“He (Sharma) clearly says that the late (President) Kalam despite being a Muslim was a nationalist and humanist. What does that convey? In plain and simple language, it clearly says that Muslims cannot be trusted.
He called Sharma, the culture minister, an “uncultured” man who must be “kicked out” from the government. Hyderabad MP Owaisi wondered if Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared Sharma’s opinion.
