PHOTO: AFP
Days after two low-caste Hindu (Dalit) children had been burnt alive in Haryana, the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs General (retired) V K Singh sparked uproar when he apparently compared them to dogs.
“For everything...like if somebody throws a stone at a dog, then the government is responsible...it is not like that,” the former Indian army chief said as he spoke about the incident.
With tensions already high over the incident, Singh’s comments further aggravated matters.
However, Singh later clarified his statement, saying that he did not intend to draw an analogy, Times of India reported.
“My statement wasn’t intended to draw an analogy. My men and I put our lives on the line for the nation irrespective of caste, creed and religion. I stand by to serve India with the same spirit, right now and always. Our nation, its success and its people motivate me daily (sic),” the Union minister tweeted.
In Islamabad, Indian High Commission spokesperson Balbir Singh said that despite the “media hype” over recent attacks by far-right group Shiv Sena, there was no threat to Pakistani citizens visiting India, NDTV reported.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 23rd, 2015.
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