Amidst protest by Congress workers against Union Minister Giriraj Singh’s remark on party president Sonia Gandhi’s skin colour, Rajya Sabha MP Raj Babbar on Thursday said the Bihar BJP leader should receive treatment for mental illness.
The Congress leader said he was ready to bear charges of Singh’s treatment in any asylum.
“In a land where Goddess Kali and Goddess Durga are worshipped, the BJP should think if it wants such leaders,” added Babbar.
The Union Minister caused embarrassment to the government and triggered outrage on Wednesday with a racist remark about Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s skin colour. The Congress demanded his dismissal, while Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra said he was “appalled” at the remark which was a reflection of the BJP leader’s lack of respect for women.
The Bharatiya Janata Party, however, said the row over Singh’s remark has ended as the minister has clarified.
Singh, who has stoked controversy in the past as well, told reporters in Patna on Tuesday that he wondered if former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi had married a woman who was not white-skinned, would the Congress have accepted her as its president.
“If Rajiv Gandhi had married a Nigerian and if she wasn’t white-skinned, would the Congress accept her as a leader,” he said.
Following the outrage triggered by his comment, Singh on Wednesday expressed regret and said his remarks were made during an off-the-record conversation.