Union Minister of State for External affairs General (Retd.) VK Singh kicked up a storm with his comments that the Centre cannot be blamed if somebody throws a stone at a dog to shield it from criticism in the Faridabad Dalit burning incident, prompting demands from the Opposition for his ouster.
Don’t connect the government with it. It was a feud between two families, the matter in under inquiry.
— Gen. (Retd) VK Singh, MoS, External Affairs
As an afterthought, he made a remark using dogs as an analogy which has created the controversy.
If someone throws stones at a dog, the government is not responsible.
— Gen. (Retd) VK Singh, MoS, External Affairs
Singh made the statement in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh – the constituency he represents in Parliament – while referring to the burning alive of a Dalit family in Haryana’s Faridabad district which left two toddlers dead on the intervening night of October 19-20.
In the wake of the controversy, Singh issued a clarification on Twitter, but found few takers.
After his comments, and the consequent clarification, Singh drew sharp criticism from the Opposition, including the Congress, which demanded that he be sacked.
It is condemnable, it is shocking, it is inhumane to say the least. General VK Singh has insulted not only the entire Dalit community of this country but all Indians. It reflects the mindset of the Modi government which insults Dalits, which insults the minorities and looks down upon the people who are poor and downtrodden.
— Randeep Surjewala, Spokesperson, Congress
Surjewala demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi sack Singh and tender an apology on his behalf. He also said that a criminal case should be registered against the Singh under the Prevention of Atrocities on Schedule Castes Act.
Senior Congress leader Manish Tewari described the dog analogy used by Singh as “preposterous and abominable”.
....comparing the death of two little children who were burnt alive to possibly the stoning of a dog...what could be more preposterous and abominable than that. This reflects the mindset of the government. To recall the Prime Minister of India made a similar analogy about two years back in an interview to Reuters when he said that if a pup gets crushed under the wheels of a car that needs to be emphasised too. That remark was in the context of the Gujarat pogrom.
— Manish Tiwari, Leader, Congress
The CPI alleged that comments like Singh’s were“visible” signs of emergence of cultural “fascism” in the country under the Narendra Modi regime.
We strongly condemn this statement by Singh. What is happening in this country? Earlier, Modi had made puppy remark in connection with Gujarat riots and now Singh... this shows fascist character of these people. It is height of not only intolerance, but it is a visible sign of how cultural fascism is emerging.
— D Raja, National Secretary, CPI
The Aam Aadmi Party said it will file a police complaint tomorrow seeking his arrest and also approach SC/ST Commission.
AAP will go to police station tomorrow to file an FIR against V K Singh demanding his arrest as under the SC/ST Act, the offence is non-cognisable.
— Ashutosh, Leader, Aam Aadmi Party
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also demanded Singh’s immediate removal.
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