Satyapal Singh, the BJP MP from Baghpat
A BJP lawmaker has described as a "small incident" the mob killing of a Muslim man in Uttar Pradesh's Dadri over rumours that he had beef in his house.
"A small incident like Dadri...our democratic atmosphere, our country is capable of handling it just fine. We don't need any outsider to lecture us," Satyapal Singh, the BJP MP from Baghpat, which is about two hours from Dadri.
Mr Singh is a former Mumbai police commissioner.
The BJP had recently warned its leaders against making intemperate comments on the mob killing that has caused outrage across the nation.
On September 28, Mohammad Akhlaq, 52, was dragged out of his home and beaten to death by a mob after announcements were made at a local temple that a calf had been killed. Akhlaq's son Danish was also beaten and has had multiple surgeries.
Reacting to Satyapal Singh calling the incident small, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said: "It is sad that the minister calls the Dadri lynching a small incident. Had this happened in any of their families, I wonder how he would have reacted. This is shameful."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been criticized by his opponents for not speaking out against the Dadri incident and attacks on rationalists, sent out a strong message last week at a rally in Bihar.
"In a democracy everyone has the right to speak their mind. But Hindus must decide whether they want to fight Muslims or poverty. Muslims must decide whether they want to fight Hindus or poverty," the PM said.