VK Singh apologises for `dog` remark on Dalit killings, says comments were `mixed`

New Delhi: Under fire for allegedly drawing an analogy between the killing of Dalit children in Faridabad and stoning of a dog, Union Minister VK Singh has tendered an apology and said that his remarks were 'mixed' to present a wrong picture.

“Let me be very clear, they were two different remarks, someone has mixed it. Few people from opposition are targeting us for no reason, I've fought for the country, we don't believe in division,” the former Army chief said.

“I have immense respect for Babasaheb Ambedkar and our Constitution and therefore there is no question of belittling anybody,” he added.

Yesterday, Singh had triggered a storm. "See, the thing is, never associate local incidents with the Central government (sarkar). There is an inquiry going on. There was a dispute between families. The dispute...How did it turn out...Where did the administration fail, after these it come to the Centre," he had said at Ghaziabad.

And in an afterthought - apparently aimed to stress that Centre must not be blamed for every incident - he added: "For everything...Like if somebody throws a stone at a dog, then the government is responsible...It is not like that."

Issuing a clarification, he said, “In case because of this mixing of two remarks by someone, if anyone's sentiments have been hurt, I apologise for it. One's making a big issue of this are actually creating one of their own imagination.”