Mumbai violence raised in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi : The violence in Mumbai during a rally to protest Assam violence had its echo in the Rajya Sabha Tuesday with a Bharatiya Janata Party leader questioning the “mentality” behind the protest.

“Their sympathy is with illegal migrants, not with the Assamese Bodo brothers. How are they related to Bangladeshis, what is the fault of India if there are atrocities against Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh?” BJP leader Balbir Punj asked.

“It raises a question on the mentality behind the protest,” he said.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut also raised concern over the violence in Mumbai, saying life was effected for two days in the city. He alleged that shoes were hurled at the Amar Jawan Jyoti monument to the unknown soldier there.

Opposition members then became agitated and demanded the government to answer.

Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien asked the opposition to give a notice. They, however, kept on insisting on a government response immediately. Amidst the din, the upper house was adjourned for 10 minutes.

Later, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde assured the house that the government was ready to take up the discussion. This pacified members.