I never made such statements: MoS Katheria on hate speech

March 01, 2016 17:09

On Monday, it emerged that Minister of State for Human Resource and Development Ram Shankar Katheria along with BJP MP from Fatehpur Sikri Babu Lal, had attended a condolence meeting held for VHP worker Arun Mahaur, who was allegedly killed by Muslim youth, in Agra. At the meeting, several speakers threatened the Muslim community with revenge.

According to the Indian Express, Katheria is reported to have said: We have to make ourselves powerful. We have to launch a struggle. If we dont begin a struggle, then today we have lost an Arun, tomorrow we will lose another. Doosra jane se pehle, yeh hatyare hi chale jayen is prakar ki taqat humen dikhani hogi (Before another is lost, we must show such strength that these killers themselves disappear).The administration might think that main to mantri ho gaya, haath bandh gaye (that because Im a minister, my hands are tied).

We are not withdrawing this movement. On Wednesday and Friday, we will all hold condolence meetings in our colonies. After that, whatever our leadership decides, if we are required to take to the streets, we will come on the streets in thousands. Let anybody dare stop us.

However, following the uproar in Parliament on Tuesday over his speech, Katheria told Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com that he never made the statement attributed to him.

Q: What have you got to say about the controversial statements?

A: I never made any such statement which is being attributed to me. I am ready to respond against allegations in Parliament.

Read the full interview on Rediff.com soon!

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