Bihar Minister regrets remarks giving clean chit to Pakistan

Apparently rebuked by the JD(U) leadership, Bihar Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh today said he "regretted" his remarks giving clean chit to Pakistan for the killing of five Indian soldiers on LoC.
However, at the same time, he accused the media of twisting his comments out of context.
"I regret my remarks giving clean chit to Pakistan for the killing of five Indian soldiers on the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday last," Singh told media at a hurriedly-convened press conference at his official residence.
"I am sorry if my remarks have hurt the sentiments of any individual," he said categorically, but again shifted the blame on media for "twisting" his remarks out of context.

Singh also candidly admitted that he was ill-informed that Indian soldiers were killed by militants to create a wedge between the two neighbours, but he has now come to know it was the handiwork of the Pakistani Army for which the Indian government should take the sternest possible action against Islamabad.
He admitted that he has been issued a show cause notice by the JD(U) national president Sharad Yadav and said he will reply soon.

On being told that his remarks have caused huge embarrassment to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on top of an insensitive comments for the armed forces by his ministerial colleague, Singh said: "I have already regretted my remarks....

"If the Chief Minister seeks my resignation, I will be ready to hand over the letter at any time."
He, however, defended his remarks describing Pakistan as a younger brother and a neighbour and said it was outcome of his socialist ideology and a vision that India should have good relations with all its neighbours.