BJP MP 'glorifys' practice of 'Sati' in Lok Sabha; Oppn protests disrupt LS.
- New Delhi: Lok Sabha was adjourned briefly on Tuesday due to protests by opposition members who alleged that BJP MPCP Joshi had glorified 'Sati' in his speech. Joshi, however, clarified that he did not support the banned practice and that his remarks were on the tradition of 'Jauhar'.
- He said he did not mention 'Sati' and perhaps due to an error in translation, the word was mixed with his reference to 'Satitva' (chastity).
- Joshi, a BJP member from Chittorgarh in Rajasthan, had initiated the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address when he referred to Padmavati, the queen of Mewar who is believed to have self-immolated when invader Allaudin Khilji laid a siege to the Chittor fort.
- Opposition members Supriya Sule (NCP), Kanimozhi, Dayanidhi Maran, A Raja (DMK), K Muralidharan (Congress) and Imtiaz Jaleel (AIMIM) were on their feet claiming that Joshi had glorified the practice of 'Sati'.
- Joshi asserted that he had not made any reference to the practice but mentioned that Padmavati had performed 'Jauhar' (self-immolation) to protect her honors.
- "I stand by my words," Joshi said, as opposition members raised slogans in the well of the House.
- As protests continued, Speaker Om Birla adjourned proceedings for 20 minutes. When the House reassembled, Birla assured the House that objectionable references will be examined and expunged.
- Joshi sought to further explain his comments and said he was mentioning Jauhar', not 'Sati. "Neither I nor my party has ever supported Sati... Perhaps due to an error of translation 'Satitva' was mixed with 'Sati... My government keeps nation above politics," he said.
- "She (Queen Padmavati) sacrificed her life to protect her 'Satitva' (chastity)...." Jos- hi said, inviting fresh protests from the opposition benches. "It was Jauhar... perhaps you don't understand Hindi," he added as protests continued.