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I only said no one would like to be born in poor family: Naidu
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is here to plead for Centre\'s largesse for the development of the State on Tuesday laboured to defend his anti-Dalit remarks made on Monday with references to his perception of a Dalit\'s caste preference.
Clarifies as opposition and Dalit organisations take him to task following his inadvertent remark
New Delhi: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is here to plead for Centre's largesse for the development of the State on Tuesday laboured to defend his anti-Dalit remarks made on Monday with references to his perception of a Dalit's caste preference. It may be recalled that Naidu landed in fresh controversy with his remarks that "No Dalit would prefer to be born as such and if possible everyone would like to be born into the families of kings.”
This inadvertent remark, perhaps, or a slip of tongue, came in for severe criticism from the Dalit organisations and leaders when his political rival's channel aired the same repeatedly. Addressing the media here on Tuesday, he thought it fit to set the matter right even though he was not asked about it by claiming that he was only referring to the financial status of people.
"I only said that no one would like to be born into a poor family. And nothing more. Those who looted the State and face ED and CBI cases distort it and bring in the word SCs into it. It is unfortunate that such people who don't have any developmental or governance issues, prefer to divide the society on the caste and community lines. I won't allow this to happen."
He said he would deal with such people with iron fists and people would see to it that such divisive agendas would not work in AP. "I am not calling a particular district people as goons or rowdies. I only said that some people from YSRCP and Kadapa district were brought over to Tuni to resort to large-scale arson. How can anyone burn a train and inflict a loss of Rs 145 crore on Railways? How could 40 vehicles be torched? No ordinary people would do this. Such elements are mad caps.
They are nothing but terrorists and extremists. Only they would plan such destruction. East and West Godavari districts and north coastal districts embraced me and my party and gave me a majority. They would never resort to violence. That is all I meant to say,” he said again without being asked to explain his remarks that could further alienate people from the ruling party.
