Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh
Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh courted controversy when he suggested that Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the Muslim community for his ISI remark following the recent riots in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh.
On Saturday, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a public function, Mr Ramesh said, "None should doubt his (Rahul's) intentions but the way it came out, may be that should not have happened."
But when a journalist asked him if Mr Gandhi should apologise from his remarks, the minister said, "I can't say what Rahul Gandhi
ji will say or do. But if you are asking me that Rahul Gandhi should clarify himself and should apologise, I agree with you."
Mr Ramesh's comments were in sharp contrast to what he had told NDTV earlier this week. Strongly defending Mr Gandhi, he said, "What Mr Gandhi said is 'Look, when there are communal riots, when people are deliberately targeted, they develop a sense of alienation, develop a sense of anger. That could be fodder for the enemies of India.' That's what he was essentially saying."
But his 'apology' comments on Saturday immediately created a stir.
"Rahul
ji by his statement has insulted lakhs and crores of people for which he should apologise now. It is to be seen whether Rahul Gandhi will apologise to Indian Muslims or Jairam Ramesh will apologise to Rahul
ji,"said Sidharth Nath Singh of the BJP.
At an election rally in Rajasthan last month, Rahul Gandhi had accused the BJP of dividing people in the name of religion and also said that Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI, was in touch with some Muslim youth affected by September's riots in Muzaffarnagar in which over 60 people were killed and nearly 45,000 were displaced.
While the BJP complained to the Election Commission about Mr Gandhi's remarks, the Congress completely backed him, arguing that their party vice president was merely highlighting BJP's divisive politics.
But as Mr Ramesh's comments threatened to snowball into a political controversy, Congress today distanced itself from those remarks.
"The comments made by Jairam are his personal comments and not the party view," party spokesperson Meem Afzal said.
Mr Ramesh clarified today that his comments were "twisted" but the damage may have already been done. In election season, every slip up is being lapped up by opponents as part of the election campaign.