Giriraj Singh hits new low, sparks row with racist jibe at Congress

PATNA/NEW DELHI: Union minister Giriraj Singh struck a new low even by his own standards with a racist insult directed at the Congress, asking whether it would have agreed to be led by Sonia Gandhi if she wasn't white-skinned and had, instead, been a black-skinned Nigerian.
Singh was condemned by the political class and women's groups on Wednesday, with the Congress asking the Prime Minister to dismiss him and apologise to the nation.
"Rajiv Gandhi koi Nigerian lady se vivaah kiye hotey, gora chamda na hota, toh Congress party uski netritva sweekarti kya? (had Rajiv Gandhi married a Nigerian woman, if she was not white-skinned, would the Congress party have accepted her leadership?)," Giriraj asked reporters in Hajipur, headquarters of Vaishali district, around 20 km north of Patna, late on Tuesday.
The Congress said Singh represents the sort of leaders the PM has rewarded with ministerial berths, underlining that their outrageous remarks from time to time are aimed at flattering Modi.
"We condemn the distasteful remarks of Union minister Singh bordering on insanity. It appears that continuous quest to appease Modi has made him lose his balance. Such remarks are reflective of lack of moral fibre in the BJP," said Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala.
BJP president Amit Shah said Singh's language was unacceptable. Party sources said Shah called Singh on telephone and said his comments were unbecoming of a minister, while adding that Congress men, too, have been using abusive language against Modi for which neither Sonia nor her party men have apologised.
Asked about his racist slur, Singh, who reached Delhi on Wednesday, said, "If Soniaji and Rahulji have been hurt by my remarks, I express my regret." He said his remarks were "off the record" and suggested that media was blowing it out of proportion.
Surjewala said provocative remarks from BJP ministers and MPs are routine, recalling Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti's 'Ramzada vs Haramzada' statement, Sakshi Maharaj's praise for Nathuram Godse and his exhortation that women should produce 12 children, as also VK Singh branding the Army chief as a criminal.
Singh, who had said during the Lok Sabha election campaign that people opposed to Narendra Modi can go to Pakistan, also mocked Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's absence from the political scene, comparing it with "the missing Malaysian airliner".
"The whole budget session is over, but where is Rahul Gandhi? This is similar to the disappearance of Malaysian airliner, which has not been found!" said the minister of state for micro, small and medium enterprises.
Former I&B minister Manish Tewari said, "It's for Modi to reflect on what kind of bizarre creatures are there in his government."
"He is a serial offender. What is the PM's Mann ki Baat on this? His silence reflects connivance and encouragement," said CPM functionary Brinda Karat.
Singh belongs to the politically powerful Bhumihar community in Bihar and is believed to be vital to the party's campaign in the state that goes to the polls later this year.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad said, "He should be made to wear bangles, vermilion, bindi, and his face should be blackened… There should be a stringent law to punish people like Singh. Such comments shouldn't be taken lightly. There is democracy in India and the people here become satisfied with apologies, but this is not enough."
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar today described Singh's remarks as "uncultured", saying the BJP rewards people who speak in such language.
"The comments are uncultured and reflects the mindset of the person," Kumar told reporters. "It's clear the BJP rewards people who speak in such language," he said and pointed to appointment of Singh as MoS, MSME, at the Centre.