Indian Minister clarifies after 'dog' comment on Dalit family burning stoked controversy
The Union minister of state took to twitter to clarify his stance.
(Web Desk) - Former army chief and minister of state for external affairs, Gen VK Singh on Thursday issued clarification for his dog remarks on Dalit family burning which triggered a massive controversy, reported Hindustan Times.
“Here it was a failure of the (local) administration. After that it comes on the (Central) government,” Singh told ANI on the sidelines of an event in Ghaziabad.
“So in everything, (to say that) someone threw a stone at a dog, the government is responsible – it is not like that,” he said in footage aired on television channels.
Asked if the government had failed in view of the killings in Sunperh, Singh said, “Don’t connect the government with it. It was a feud between two families. The matter is being inquired into.”
The Union minister of state took to twitter to clarify his stance.
My statement wasn t intended 2draw an analogy. My men & I put our lives on the line 4the nation irrespective of caste,creed & religion.(1/n)
— Vijay Kumar Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) October 22, 2015
He went on to saying that:
I standby to serve India with the same spirit, right now and always. Our nation, its success and its people motivate me daily. (2/n)
— Vijay Kumar Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) October 22, 2015
As citizens of this gr8 nation v r sensitive but also responsible.Agenda of India is bigger than any single neighborhood or individual(3/n)
— Vijay Kumar Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) October 22, 2015
The minister also urged the Indian citizens to remain united and confront the challenges.
We must stand united and let no one exploit our diversity by blowing up localized issues. Jai hind! (4/4)
— Vijay Kumar Singh (@Gen_VKSingh) October 22, 2015
Early on Tuesday, over half a dozen upper caste Rajput men allegedly set ablaze the house where 31-year-old Jitender Kumar was sleeping with his wife and two children. Kumar’s nine-month-old daughter Divya and two-and-half-year-old son Vaibhav were burnt alive. Their mother, Rekha, suffered serious burn injuries and is still critical.
Haryana is ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party, to which Singh belongs.
The comments of Singh drew sharp criticism from the opposition, including the Congress, which demanded his immediate sacking.
Aam Aadmi Party leader added:
VK Singh s statement is shameful and prosecutable under SC/ST Act. A case should be registered against him immediately(1/4)
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 22, 2015
Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha tweeted:
Modi Ji talked of a puppy, VK Singh says a dog! Is this government so apathetic, insensitive, callous?? https://t.co/eSDOZKrmn9
— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) October 22, 2015
Priyanka Chaturvedi, another Congress spokesperson, said on Twitter:
Dalit killings equated to dogs being stoned. Muslim killings equated to puppies being run over by a car. The empathetic side of BJP. Not.
— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) October 22, 2015 