Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks reluctant to sack his controversial colleague Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, who has a long record of delivering "hate speeches."
"Out of about 60 public meetings that she addressed during her Parliamentary election campaign in Fatehpur, she didn't forget to tell voters to decide whether they needed a government of Ramzadas (sons of Ram) or Haramzadas (an unparliamentary word)," India Today quoted Jyoti's close aide as saying.
"She didn't use these words during her 2012 Assembly election campaign, but Jyoti openly declared she didn't need any Muslim votes and would pass abusive comments against those opposed to Ram temple in Ayodhya," the aide added.
She also reportedly used the remark "Ramzada and Haramzada" (Ram's followers and bastards) earlier in March this year while addressing in Lucknow.
Her recent such comment came while addressing a rally in Delhi recently, Jyoti had asked voters to choose either "a government of Ramzaadon (followers of Ram) or (those who are illegitimate)?" She later apologized.
Jyoti has violated the Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code, under which she is eligible to maximum sentence of three years of imprisonment. Section 153A holds to account anybody "promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion ... and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony," according to The Times of India report.
But Modi wants MPs to "forgive" her, citing her apology.
On Friday, in the Parliament, he asked unrelenting MPs not to disrupt the proceedings over Jyoti's remark.
He also said that Jyoti, who belongs to a rural background, is a first time Parliamentarian.
"I appeal to the House that we should work for the interest of the country," Indian Express quoted Modi as saying in the Upper House.
It seems Jyoti doesn't seem to spare her own party members.
"She doesn't respect anybody. 'Ramzada and Haramzada' kind of speeches are her trademark. But she uses Haramzada even for those BJP leaders whom she doesn't like. Modi will soon regret making her minister of state for food processing," suspended Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader Bhanu Singh Patel said.
