Shinde denied that the decision to airlift the victim to a Singapore hospital was done on the government's advice.
"It was a decision solely based on the advice of doctors. The Safdarjang and AIIMS doctors found her critical, and sought the advice of Dr Trehan (of Medanta Hospital). It was decided that since Singapore was nearer, we should take the girl there first, and after she had slightly improved, she could be shifted to either to the US or London.
"The government's only intention was to save the girl. Had she not been sent abroad, the media would have raised questions. We have nothing to hide. After so much atrocities on that girl, where was the need of doing politics on this issue?", Shinde said.
On the police action against protesters at India Gate, Shinde said, the protesters had tried to storm Rashtrapati Bhavan, and had broken down barricades. "Several of them even entered the North Block. I am fully with the sentiments of the protesters, but any such demonstration much be peaceful", he said.
On the clampdown against protests at India Gate, Shinde pointed out that the Russian president Vladimir Putin was arriving in India. "We cannot play with our nation's prestige and dignity when a foreign guest is coming. Nowhere in the world such things are allowed to happen."
Sushilkumar Shinde in Aap Ki Adalat will be telecast on India TV on Saturday (Jan 12) at 10 pm and on Sunday (Jan 13) at 10 am and 10 pm.
