TMC's Banerjee apologises for remarks on minister Scindia

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee's controversial remarks against Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia triggered an uproar in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, with Speaker Om Birla expunging the comments and the senior Opposition leader issuing an apology to Scindia.

- HT Correspondent

NEW DELHI:

The Union minister, however, refused to accept Banerjee's apology, and said, "Please talk about parliamentary matters in Parliament".

The controversy began when Banerjee was speaking during a discussion on the amendments to the Disaster Management Act in the Lok Sabha, and alleged non-cooperation by the central government during the Covid-19 pandemic. Minister of state for home Nityanand Rai countered Banerjee, saying it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who helped all the states and successfully handled the crisis by taking everyone along.

Rai further alleged that the West Bengal government tried to put hurdles in the transportation of Covid vaccines through its territory. Scindia backed Rai, saying that India emerged as a "Vishwa Bandhu [global friend]" during the pandemic and helped all the needy countries across the world.