Cancer 'divine justice' for our sins, says Assam min; Chidambaram hits back

Himanta Biswa Sarma said, 'When people get cancer or have accidents, it is God making us suffer for our sins'

Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma sparked controversy on Tuesday by saying that cancer and accidents suffered by people are "divine justice" served for their past sins.

Speaking at an event in Guwahati, Sarma said, "God makes us suffer when we sin. Sometimes we come across young men getting inflicted with cancer or young men meeting with accidents. If you observe the background, you will come to know that it's divine justice, and nothing else. We have to suffer that divine justice."

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader further elaborated, saying that the sins could be of this lifetime or previous life, or