Author: Press Trust of India
Publication: NDTV.com
Date: May 3, 2011
URL: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/trouble-over-digvijaya-remarks-on-osama-funeral-103221
Congress has disapproved of senior party leader
Digvijaya Singh's controversial remarks about the sea burial given to Al-Qaeda
chief Osama bin Laden by the US.
"We disapprove of it," a top party
functionary, who declined to be named, said after Congress President Sonia
Gandhi had a meeting with party leaders, including Mr Singh.
Mr Singh had said on Monday, "However
big a criminal one might be, his religious traditions should be respected
while burying him."
A senior Congress leader speaking on the condition
of anonymity, however, questioned Singh's contention, remarking sarcastically,
"Was Osama engaged in some noble work?"
The leader said, "Singh speaks unnecessary
things many times. It is not good to promote personal constituency always.
It does not succeed. Muslims do not get pleased by such things. Such statements
are taken as communal. It is not good to go out and speak on every issue."
The party had given an indication of its disapproval
of Mr Singh's remarks earlier during the day when its spokesman Manish Tewari
parried questions on whether Mr Singh's statement on Laden's burial is the
official party view.
"On the question of Laden and terror
per se, we have repeatedly cleared our position. The position of Congress
has been very clearly articulated and delineated. We have nothing further
to say on the articulation (of the party) on the neutralisation of Laden after
what we said yesterday," he said.
Tewari said, "If you sow the wind, you
reap the whirlwind", adding that he was making this observation in relation
to all terrorists and terrorist organizations.
The US has maintained that the body was handled
in accordance with Islamic practice and tradition. The burial at sea was apparently
due to fears that his land burial may become a site to attract his followers.
However, some Islamic organisations have said that it was not appropriate.
Mr Singh, however, dismissed as "absolutely
rubbish" reports that he was summoned by Sonia Gandhi in the wake of
his statement on the sea burial of Laden. He said he had gone to Ms Gandhi's
official residence at 10 Janpath for a meeting in which many senior leaders
including Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Suresh Pachauri were also present.
"My statement was not discussed. It is
absolutely rubbish," he said.
Noting that his statement should not be interpreted
as something against or for Osama, Mr Singh said, "I had merely said
that the worst of criminals should be cremated according to their faith".
"He (Osama) is a terrorist and he deserved
the treatment that he got", Singh said, adding that no one in the party
had asked him to explain his statement nor anyone had summoned him.
