S***a Manmohan, says Rajasthan minister Gulab Chand Kataria, apologises later

In an unfortunate instance of politics taking a uncivil turn, Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria was caught on camera abusing former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. However, the minister later apologised for his remarks, NDTV reported. “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 Congress reacted sharply to Kataria’s comments after which the minister issued an apology. Kataria tweeted saying: “I haven’t made any negative statements against former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. If someone felt bad because of what I said then I express regret.”

According to The Indian Express, the minister was addressing BJP cadres in Churu. While comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the former PM, Kataria said that when Manmohan was the Indian Prime Minister, just about anybody used to receive him at the airport, as opposed to Modi, who is welcomed by President Barack Obama himself. The India Express quoted the Rajasthan home minister as saying: “It was wrong. The word just came out while I was in the flow (of the speech). I certainly regret it. Even in Vidhan Sabha, if you ask the Opposition, I sometimes make such errors, but I do realise it.” In the video, he is heard repeatedly using the word “saala” to refer to the former Prime Minister.