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Nirupam withdraws slur on Dilip Kumar amidst din

Faced with a vociferous demand from the Opposition for his suspension from the House, Shiv Sena member Sanjay Nirupam today withdrew his remark, made in the Rajya Sabha yesterday, that thespian Dilip Kumar was a ''Pakistani''.

''I sincerely apologise for not responding to the direction of the chair yesterday and I regret having defied the chair. I withdraw all the objectionable words,'' Nirupam said in an explanation read out by him in the House, amid shouts from the Opposition benches that action must be initiated against him.

The Opposition members did not seem satisfied with Nirupam's apology, but Chairman Krishan Kant ruled that the matter was closed. ''He has withdrawn all his words... After my ruling nothing can be said,'' the chairman said.

As soon as zero hour began, several Opposition members, including Janardhan Poojary, Nagmani, Mohammed Azam Khan, H Hanumanthappa and Nilotpal Basu got up and demanded action against the Shiv Sena member.

The issue had led to heated exchanges in the House yesterday after Nirupam's remark against Dilip Kumar during a discussion on the Hindi film Fire.

Today again, the issue sparked intense heat just when Nirupam got up to speak. He first read out his apology from a written statement in English and, after finishing it, said in Hindi '' Lekin maine jo kal kaha tha woh sach hai (but what I stated yesterday is true)''.

An infuriated leader of the House and Industry Minister Sikandar Bakht said, ''I am very sorry for what the member has said ...I had told him to withdraw his words.'' Bakht wondered why Nirupam had repeated yesterday's words in a different manner and publicly reprimanded the Shiv Sena member for his action.

The Opposition members also got up and repeated their demand for action against Nirupam. However, the chairman sought to restore order in House, saying, ''I am equally pained as you are but would like to give another chance to the member."

Amid the din, Nirupam read out his statement, tendering an apology. Despite the Opposition's protests, the chairman ruled that the matter be closed.

UNI

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