Jaipur/Nagpur: Rajasthan’s home minister Gulab Chand Kataria has been attacked by the Congress for using foul language against former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a meeting on Sunday.
First he regretted that the pejorative escaped him in a flow.
Today he clarified that the term he used means wife’s brother and so is not an abuse, that it is almost a catchphrase in parts of the state.
While praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a meeting of BJP workers in Churu, Gulab Chand Kataria said: “Desh ka pradhan mantri pehle Manmohan Singh jab America utarta tha, toh s**** ko receive karne kay liye aira-gera nathu khaira mantri ja karke airport se lekar ata tha. Lekin ab Hindustan ka pradhan mantri jab jata hai, toh Obama swayam uth karke jata hai uski agwani karne ke liye. (When as prime minister Manmohan Singh used to go to the US, he was received by random ministers. But now, when India’s Prime Minister goes, Obama himself goes to receive him).”
The minister’s speech was reportedly littered with objectionable terms. At least six other ministers were present in the meeting besides thousands of BJP workers.
Gulab Chand Kataria later regretted his words in a tweet. “My comments against the former prime minister were not made with any malice. If anyone was offended, then I express regret.”
A newspaper quoted him as saying that the objectionable word “came out when I was in the flow.” The two-time state home minister has been known to shoot off his mouth in the past.
Congress leader Pratap Singh lashed out at Gulab Chand Kataria and said he should be sacked for the “undignified words”. “The Chief Minister (Vasundhara Raje) should clarify. Either action should be taken or he should be sacked for insulting the country,” he said.
