The Opposition in Lok Sabha, today, sought strict action against Bharatiya Janata Party Leader (BJP), Tarun Vijay, for his racist remarks, although the Government assured there would be no discrimination, based on color or caste.

Senior Union Ministers, Rajnath Singh, and Anath Kumar, seeking to calm down the strained nerves, said that the individual has already apologized, and that the country is secular.

The Opposition members, had made noisy protests, and also demanded a lodging of an FIR, against him on the issue. The proceedings of the House, were adjourned thrice - once during the Question Hour, and twice during the Zero Hour.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, condemned the ruling party over the remarks, and wondered whether the people from South India, were not Indian citizens.

The Congress leader during the Zero Hour said, “I want to know whether we are Indians or not. Are we not citizens (of India).” “Wanting to know what action would be taken against Vijay who is not an ordinary person.”

Kharge said, he was a former Rajya Sabha member, and has also written many books on BJP philosophy.

Kharge said, “His remarks are a “threat” to the unity of the country and “you want to divide this country,” adding that if such things continue, then the states would start asserting for independence.

This “shows your mentality”, he said. “FIR should be lodged against Tarun Vijay. He has talked about breaking the nation. It is anti-national,” Kharge said.

Rajnath Singh in response said, “there would be no discrimination based on caste, creed, color and religion, and the individual has already said that his remarks are indefensible.”

The Home Minister said, there is no need to raise any more questions about it, as the individual has already apologized, and added that he would not mention his name.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said “this (House) is not a court,” as the protests continued even after Singh’s statement.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar sought to calm down the agitating members saying, “We are all one. The country is one.”

Kumar said the Home Minister has already given the reply and an apology has been tendered by Vijay, after the House met again at 1245 hours,

BJP is of the view that “we all are Indians. There is no difference on the basis of color. We all are one. Congress should not create differences. We are all together.”

Ananth Kumar emphasized, “Khargeji please do not try to create differences. One India. Great India.”

Kumar, earlier during Question Hour, urged the Opposition to allow Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to respond to the question, posed to her in Question Hour, saying she was a minister “from the South.”

The Opposition members, including from the Congress and the Left, dissatisfied with the Minister's response, streamed into the Well shouting slogans. They raised slogans, during the Question Hour also.

The Opposition members were heard shouting, “Modi sarkar jawab do-jawab do (Modi government should respond)”, “Desh ka vibhajan nahin chalega (Won't allow division of a country)” and “We want FIR (against Vijay)”.

The Speaker, however, adjourned the proceedings for over 20 minutes till 1245 hours. As the protests still continued, the House was again adjourned till 1350 hours. Also, there was a brief adjournment of the House, during the Question Hour, over the issue for 10 minutes till 1120 hours.

By Supraja