Govt defends VK Singh, says Rahul Gandhi trying to give political colour

New Delhi: Defending Union Minister V K Singh, government today rejected the opposition charge that he had made anti-dalit remarks and said it was unfortunate that Congress was bent on giving political colour to the matter.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament after Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi led a protest by party MPs demanding Singh's ouster, Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy said that Singh is being "traumatised" for a statement that he has not made.

"Rahulji wakes up suddenly and starts some programme. V K Singh has not made any such statement," he told reporters here.

Rudy said that Singh respects the Constitution and held that he had not said anything what was being attributed to him.

"Rahulji wants to do give this issue a political colour. It is unfortunate that a statement not made by someone is attributed to a minister. He is traumatised for that. This is not correct," Rudy said.

Rahul, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, party leaders Anand Sharma, Deepender Hooda and several others participated in the protest against Singh's "dog" remarks held shortly before the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha assembled for the day.

Singh, who is Minister of State for External Affairs, had kicked up a storm in October with his comments that the Centre cannot be blamed if somebody throws a stone at a dog to shield it from criticism for the Faridabad Dalit burning incident, prompting opposition to demand his ouster.