New Delhi , May 01: A section of the Rajya Sabha members Wednesday threatened to move a privilege motion against Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss for saying that the migrant population from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar was responsible for transmitting the polio virus.
Upset at his remarks, Virendra Bhatia of the Samajwadi Party said that the minister's statement was shocking, especially after people from north India were already being victimised in Maharashtra.
Bhatia demanded a privilege motion against Ramadoss and was supported by his colleagues cutting across party lines.
Last week Ramadoss said in the Rajya Sabha the polio virus was transmitted only in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which were dogged by poor sanitation, filthy drinking water and high population density.
He added that the transmission of polio virus was taking place because of the heavy migration of people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
The minister has been in the eye of one controversy after another beginning with promoting a series of bans on smoking and the latest - a move to weed out films that show their characters consuming alcohol.
(IANS)