Jr HRD Minister flayed over inflammatory report

Minister of State for Human Resource and Development (HRD) Ram Shankar Katheria has said that the report is completely untrue about his alleged inflammatory speech in Agra, as reported by a leading national daily. According to reports, Katheria, along with BJP MP from Fatehpur Sikri Babu Lal, had recently attended a condolence meeting held for VHP worker Arun Mahaur, who was allegedly killed by Muslim youth, in Agra. During the meeting, several speakers threatened the Muslim community of revenge. One of the speakers also reportedly asked the gathering to "corner Muslims and destroy the demons (rakshas). "The leading national daily also quoted BJP Fatehpur Sikri MP as saying, `If you want to test Hindus, then let`s decide a date and take on Muslims.` " Samajawadi Party (SP) leader Ram Gopal Yadav had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should sack the minister for making such inflammatory remarks. "The article that is published in the Indian Express is completely untrue. Therefore, it is a matter of concern that Ram Gopal Yadav, without even seeing the CD, has made such a statement. I would like to appeal to him to get the complete CD from his administration and listen to the whole address," Katheria told ANI. While his senior, Smriti Irani, is facing the music in both the Houses of parliament over the Hyderabad Central university and Jawaharlal Nehru University affairs, Ram Shankar is being hauled over the coals over what he claimed he had not said.