Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Health Minister Chaudhary Lal Singh has landed himself in another controversy allegedly by abusing opposition National Conference (NC) leaders for submitting a Bill in the legislature seeking revocation of beef ban.
During an interaction with reporters, Singh allegedly used abusive words when journalists asked him about the Bill submitted by the NC.
Initially, the minister told the reporters that they should ask questions only about his department. "I have nothing to do with that. If you have to ask questions, ask about health. If health is there, then everything is there. Don't get into rubbish things," the minister said. When asked again, Singh used abusive words, adding "they (NC) leaders are talking rubbish. They are sitting idle."
This is not the first time that Singh has found himself mired in a controversy.
Just two weeks after he took oath, a woman doctor had filed a complaint against the minister, accusing him of "mental harassment amounting to outraging modesty". In her complaint, the doctor had accused the Singh of misbehaviour.
Recently, a woman doctor had alleged that the minister misbehaved with her for not wearing an apron during an official function and filed a complaint, which was rejected by police. A photograph of the minister touching the collar of the woman doctor had gone viral on social media.
Meanwhile, NC said Singh was not alien to abusing people and anti-beef ban bill was an emotive issue for the people of the state. "Singh is not an alien to abusing people. He is the same person, who as a Congress leader, compared the current Prime Minister's lack of political legacy to the lack of a pedigree in canines.
"So, he should first tell us if he still has the same view about Narendra Modi, in whose party he is a cabinet minister in the state," NC spokesman Junaid Mattu said.
He said the minister's lack of seriousness was of no relevance. "As far as the anti-beef bill is concerned, it is an emotive and sensitive issue and the people of the state are concerned about it. So, Singh's lack of seriousness is of no relevance," Mattu said.
