New Delhi, Nov. 30 (The Telegraph): Union home minister Rajnath Singh today stood up in anger to disclaim a religion-based remark about the Prime Minister, drew a Lakshman rekha for rabble-rousing ministers and let a smile play on his lips later.

"I am hurt. Never before in my long political career did I feel so hurt. If a home minister gives such a statement, he has no right to remain in office," Rajnath, appearing to be livid, told the Lok Sabha after Mohammad Salim of the CPM referred to a remark attributed to the home minister in a news magazine.

As listeners in the charged House, debating "intolerance", tried to figure out the significance of Rajnath's statement, the home minister added: "The country knows, even the minorities know, Rajnath Singh cannot make such a statement. Madam Speaker, I seek your protection."

An MP later described his immediate thoughts after hearing out Rajnath:

? Wasn't the home minister suggesting that ministers who make polarising and inflammatory statements do not deserve to continue? If so, several ministers in the Narendra Modi government will have reasons to be livid. (See chart)

? By suggesting that he enjoys the trust of even minorities, was Rajnath trying to emulate Atal Bihari Vajpayee? Is Rajnath casting himself as a leader acceptable to all, unlike some of the other leading lights in the Modi government? Just in case....

In the House, Salim, who said his comment had been sourced from the magazine, not only refused to withdraw his statement but added fuel to fire. "I have high regard for Rajnathji.... I have no qualms about him. In fact, I would have been happy if he became the Prime Minister instead of Modiji," the CPM parliamentarian added.

Rajnath sat smiling. But many faces on the treasury benches appeared uneasy.

Parliamentary affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu sensed what was going on and promptly got up to say: "There is no need to talk like that. This is like saying P. Karunakaran (another CPM member) should have become general secretary instead of Sitaram Yechury."

The controversial remark attributed to Rajnath - and denied by him - was expunged by the Speaker after four adjournments.

Whether the home minister had made the remark or not, a similar statement had been uttered with great pride by VHP leader Ashok Singhal who passed away earlier this month.

In November last year, Singhal was quoted as saying Delhi was being ruled by a " swabhimani (proud)" Hindu after 800 years.

On May 24 last year, Singhal had hailed Modi's ascent to power at the Centre as a "resurrection of Hindu rule", which he claimed had ended in 1192 when Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan in the Second Battle of Tarain. "A cataclysmic change has occurred. Khoya hua raj vapas aa gaya (A lost sovereignty has returned). It's the return of the rule under Prithviraj," Singhal had told reporters.

Today, some MPs found Rajnath's impassioned reaction intriguing as most Sangh parivar leaders would have taken pride in showering such an "eulogy" on Modi.

Rajnath chose his time to explode. His outburst came only when the Lok Sabha resumed after the adjournment caused by the first eruption over Salim's reference.

Before the first adjournment, Rajnath had been milder. He had said: "The member is making a serious charge. When did I say that? I never said so. The member will have to apologise."

A large number of BJP members - led by the minister of state for parliamentary affairs and Rajnath confidant, Rajiv Pratap Rudy - vociferously supported Rajnath.

Rajnath too stuck to his guns, asking for an apology from the CPM member who had apparently been instructed by his party boss Yechury not to budge an inch.

The obstinacy on both sides sustained the deadlock for the whole afternoon, allowing the electronic media to air the remark unhindered until it was expunged.

By expressing his deep sense of hurt, Rajnath was obviously posturing like Vajpayee who often chose to project a moderate face.

Vajpayee's advice in public to Modi to adhere to " raj dharma (the duty or moral obligation of the ruler)" after the riots in Gujarat still touches a raw nerve among the Prime Minister's loyalists. They always point out that the then Prime Minister had also added that "I (Vajpayee) believe he (Modi) is performing his raj dharma properly."

Salim contended that he was not obliged to apologise as he was merely mentioning a report which was in the public domain. "You should be thankful I brought this to your notice. The IB and your ministry should have alerted you that such a statement has been carried under your name. If you have not said so, haul up the magazine, not me."

Salim walked up to the House table and submitted the magazine after signing it. When BJP members tried to force him to apologise, he spread his arms and said: "I am standing here. Hang me, shoot me. But there is no question of going back. What is spoken is spoken."

Rudy and others repeatedly asked him to withdraw his statement, unwittingly or otherwise hammering home the message that Rajnath had taken a stand that other ministers so far had refused to adopt.

Rajnath also received support in the form of an intervention by Biju Janata Dal member Bhartruhari Mahtab, who cited rules to stress that no member can make an allegation without giving prior notice. The Speaker eventually expunged the remark from the records.