Will protect religious freedom: Rajnath

Following vociferous protests by members in both Houses of Parliament over the force-feeding of an employee observing Ramzan fast by Shiv Sena MPs, Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured the Rajya Sabha on Friday that the government was committed to safeguarding the religious freedom of every citizen. In a statement, Mr. Singh termed the incident “regrettable” and “unfortunate.”

Mr. Singh said that as per the report received from New Maharashtra Sadan, on July 17 around 11.30 a.m., a few MPs from Maharashtra raised objections to the quality of food served by at the canteen run by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourist Corporation.

The MPs entered the front office and also the kitchen room of the Resident Commissioner. “Thereafter, they reportedly tried to feed chapati to Arshad Zubair, catering manager of the IRCTC.”

No complaint has been filed by Arshad.