Rajnath says Bedi has said sorry, put the issue to rest

Singh’s comments came after DMK leader TR Baalu raised the issue for the second consecutive day in Lok Sabha and said that the matter has triggered outrage in Tamil Nadu as it was insulting to Tamil society and state politicians.

The Defence Minister said Bedi has already deleted the tweet and issued a statement expressing deep regret. Singh said when the matter was raised in Parliament by Baalu, the Ministry of Home Affairs took notice of it and took necessary action in this regard. Singh said she has expressed deep regret by saying, “What was written was a people perspective shared in my personal capacity, as it came at a time when people were hugely suffering for water in Chennai. However, I admit it was avoidable. And I should not have shared it in public in this manner and I too realised it.”

“I have therefore deleted my sharing. I have the highest regards and warmth for the people of Tamil Nadu, like I have for the people of Puducherry,” Singh quoted Bedi’s statement.

The Defence minister said in view of the L-G’s statement, he would like to request members of the House to put the issue to rest.

Earlier, raising the issue during Zero Hour, Baalu said the L-G’s comments on Twitter were without any provocation and generated a strong reaction in Tamil Nadu.

DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran thanked Singh for his reply on the issue of L-G Bedi’s “hurtful comments” against the Tamil people.

“I hope that henceforth the government adopts the same attitude in dealing with matters of dissent and voices of Opposition as well,” Maran said in the House. He also posted his comments on Twitter. After Singh’s statement, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury demanded the House to adopt a resolution condemning Bedi for allegedly humiliating the people of Tamil Nadu. Asaduddin Owaisi of the AIMIM said that a constitutional head cannot have a personal opinion. However, Speaker Om Birla moved to the next subject.