VK Singh's Remarks on Dalits Inspire Black Humour in Cyber Space

NEW DELHI: Union Minister Gen V K Singh courted controversy for his statements linking the murder of two Dalit children in Haryana to the stoning of dogs.

Responding to a question on the killings, Singh told reporters in Ghaziabad: “Kabhi sthaniya ghatnaon ka sarkar se talluk mat rakhiye. Uske upar inquiry chal rahi hain. Parivaron ke beech mathbhed tha.. voh mathbhed kis roop mein parivartit hua, kahan par intazamiyan ka failure hain, administration ka? Uske bad voh sarkar ke upar aata hain (Never associate local incidents with the Central Government. There is an inquiry going on. There was a dispute between families. The dispute…how did it turn out…where did the arrangements fail, the administration? After all this, it falls upon the Central Government).”

Singh then added: “To har cheez par, ki wahan par pathar maar diya kutte ko to, sarkar jimmewaar hai. Aisa nahi hai. (For everything…like if somebody throws a stone at a dog, then the Central Government is responsible…it is not like that)”.

Singh’s comments have prompted demands for his resignation, with the Congress party, the left parties and the AAP leading the fray. AAP leader and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tweeted “VK Singh’s statement is shameful and prosecutable under the SC/ST Act. A case should be registered against him immediately.”

“AAP will go to the police station tomorrow to file an FIR against Gen V K Singh demanding his arrest as under the SC/ST Act, the offence is non-cognisable,” senior AAP leader Ashutosh said.

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala, describing the comments as “shocking, condemnable and inhumane,” said that “General V K Singh has insulted not only the entire Dalit community of this country but all Indians.”

The internet, however, had the last word, with a series of tweets, posts and messages criticising Singh.