Bharatiya Janta Party MP Nepal Singh on Tuesday beat a quick retreat after he critiqued the eulogizing of soldiers killed in gun-battles with militants.
The comment - "there is no country where army men don't get killed in a fight” -- came a day after five Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in an encounter with militants in Kashmir.
Singh said: "Ye to roz marenge Army mein, koi aisa desh hai jahan army ka aadmi na marta ho jhagde mein? Gaon mein bhi jhagda hota hai to ek na ek to ghaayal hoga hi! Koi aisi device batao, jisse aadmi na mare? Aisi cheez batao ki goli kaam na kare, use karwa dein (These people will die daily in the army, is there any country in the world where army people don't die in fights? When people get into a scuffle in villages, someone is always left injured! mention some device, that can save people from getting killed? Tell me something that doesn't let the bullet function, will implement that," reported news agency ANI.
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Three militants were also killed in the Pulwama encounter. The militantshad stormed a training centre in the early hours of Sunday. They first lobbed grenades and then began indiscriminate firing and entered the training centre in Awantipora.
The attack was criticised by government and the opposition. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Moday had condemned the "cowardly attack."
"We are proud of our brave jawans, their sacrifice won’t go in vain. The entire nation stands with their families," he said.
Nepal Singh, however, later apologised and said his comment was misunderstood. "Maine sena ke koi apmaan ki baat nahin ki. Mujhe dukh hai, maafi maangta hoon par maine aisa kuch kaha nahin (I did not say anything insulting against the army. I am appalled, I apologise but did not say anything bad)," ANI quoted him as saying.
