New Delhi, Dec. 19 -- A sharp political debate erupted over Sanjay Singh's statement in Parliament on Friday that invoked the name of the Hindu God 'Ram'. The ruling party, BJP members, strongly criticised the MP over the statement, with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi even alleging that the opposition parties are just doing appeasement politics.

Sanjay Singh defended his "Ram ke naam mein charitra hona chahiye, warna haram mein bhi Ram likha hua hai" ("There must be character in the name of 'Ram,' otherwise the word 'Ram' is also found within the word 'Haram' (forbidden/unethical).") statement by saying it was just a reiteration of a quote used by the late former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee himself in response to Ram Vilas' claim that his name...