The incident of slapping of Union Minister Pawar was widely condemned by all political parties, even as opposition warned that such incidents may increase if steps to curb rising prices were not taken.
The incident of slapping of Union Minister Sharad Pawar today evoked wide condemnation from the political class, even as some opposition leaders warned the government that such incidents may increase if it did not take adequate steps to curb rising prices.
Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule, who was coming out of Parliament rushed to see her father after hearing about the incident.
Congress spokesman Rashid Alvi blamed BJP for the "unfortunate" incident saying, "the incident was a result of the opposition party leader's statement made to incite the public.
"If the opposition party says that people will resort to violence due to rising prices, it means they are inciting the people of the country... If a political party incites the public like this, then it will have such results."
Alvi said, "all political parties and their leaders should be very careful in giving their statements," as they weaken democracy.
BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad, while condemning the incident said it is unfortunate that Congress feels that the opposition party is trying to incite the public. "It is not proper. It should not have happened. It is a security breach," he told reporters outside Parliament.
Reacting to the Congress comments blaming the BJP for instigating violence, Prasad said, "If Congress thinks it is because of opposition's statements, we pity them for not being concerned about the public apathy and pain due to price rise. People are today helpless and are feeling the pain of price rise for the last 3.5 years even when an economist Prime Minister is running the nation."
Terming Alvi's comments as "irresponsible", Prasad said he should show restraint while making statements against a political party as his views are considered as those of the Congress since he is also the party spokesman.
Prasad also justified remarks by senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha that an atmosphere of tension was prevailing in the country due to price rise.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said, "It is totally condemnable and I think, I do not know where this country is going. These type of activities are not worth publicising."
Railways Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Dinesh Trivedi said, "It is very unfortunate", but added "if it was just a spur of the moment, then I think he should be talked to and he should be explained things."
The Minister felt that taking any tough step against him also may not really solve anything.
Senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh said, these things are happening as the government was not fulfilling its responsibility.
"If the government does not fulfil its responsibility, and creates such an atmosphere which leads to anarchy and incidents of attack on even senior ministers of the Centre.... then the government has to answer," he told reporters outside Parliament.
While stressing that the responsibility for the price rise rests on the governemnt, Singh, at the same time, maintained, "But the solution of price rise does not lie in attacking Sharad Pawar."
He rejected Congress allegation as "absurd" that the attack on Pawar has happened due to the provocative statements by Sinha.
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