New Delhi: A day after demanding an apology from Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi over his ‘ISI remarks’, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh yesterday took a U-turn.
According to reports, Jairam Ramesh claimed that his opinion was “twisted out of context”.
At a press meet, Ramesh said, “I didn’t say that Rahul should apologise, the media twisted it.” Jairam Ramesh claimed that his opinion was “twisted out of context”.
On Saturday, during an interaction with reporters from the Urdu media at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Delhi, Ramesh said that the Congress vice president should apologise to the Muslim community for his remarks that Muslim youth were wooed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). However, he also said, “Rahul’s intention was not to malign any community. But it was blown out of proportion by the media and Congress adversaries.”
However, Congress yesterday distanced itself from the comment of rural development minister Jairam Ramesh, on the controversy sparked by party vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on ISI getting in touch with Muzaffarnagar riot-hit youth.
Party spokesperson Meem Afzal said Gandhi has already clarified his statement in reply to the Election Commission (EC) and the party has also spoken about the issue. “I do not know what Jairam Ramesh has said. But whatever he might have said may be his personal view. This is not the view of the party,” Afzal said.
Taking a dig at Ramesh’s comments the BJP said it has to be seen whether Rahul will apologise to Muslim community or the former will apologise to his party leader.
Agencies
