The
Minister was reportedly forced to express regrets for his offensive remarks
after a call from BJP President Amit Shah who made it clear to him that “such
language” was not acceptable. Party
sources said Shah called Giriraj on telephone and made it clear in no uncertain
terms that it was unbecoming of a minister to use such a language.
MoS in
Modi government said, “If Soniaji and Rahulji are hurt by my comment, i express
my regret”. He however didn’t tender an apology for the outrageous remarks.
Shah
also asked the 63-year-old minister to “observe absolute restraint in public
and in private” and stop embarrassing the party and the government, reported
NDTV news website.
Earlier
today, the minister sparked controversy when he asked if the Congress party
would have accepted Sonia as its chief if the colour of his skin was not white.
“If
Rajiv Gandhi would have married a Nigerian lady and not a white-skinned girl,
then would Congress party have accepted her leadership?” Giriraj said at a
press meet in Hajipur district of Bihar. As the
issue snowballed into a major controversy, it drew strong objection not just
from Congress but also other opposition parties. “Congress
strongly deprecates and condemns the intemperate and distasteful remarks of
Union Minister, Shri Giriraj Singh, bordering on insanity… Prime Minister must
dismiss such a minister and apologise to the nation,” said Cong leader Randeep
Surjewala.
The
Nigerian High Commission took strong objection to the racist remarks by Union
minister Giriraj Singh in which he refereed to a Nigerian woman and demanded an
apology for the “unacceptable” comments.
Acting
High Commissioner of Nigeria O B Okongor said a complaint may be filed with the
External Affairs Ministry as Singh’s comments were in “very bad taste”. “We
expect the minister to withdraw the comments and apologise to the Nigerian
people. We will notify our government about the issue,” he said.
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