The Hindu : National : "I was quoted out of context"

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Saturday, Jan 06, 2007
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"I was quoted out of context"

Atiq Khan

PWD Minister denies remarks on Noida killings

LUCKNOW: The Mulayam Singh Yadav Government on Friday launched damage control measures in the wake of the embarrassment caused by Public Works Department Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav's remarks on the Noida killings.

During his visit to Nithari village on Thursday, the Chief Minister's younger brother dismissed the serial killings of children at the village as a "small" and "routine" incident (chhoti moti ghatna). Such incidents kept happening, he said. At a press conference Mr. Shivpal Singh Yadav blamed the media for quoting him "out of context."

"I had said that the Government was committed to solving all major as well as small and routine incidents."

Agriculture Minister Ashok Bajpai, who was present at the press meet, along with Panchayati Raj Minister Balram Yadav, said the Government was not insensitive to the plight of the victims' relatives and had not taken the incident "lightly." Mr. Shivpal Singh Yadav was deputed by the Chief Minister to visit Nithari and distribute compensation of Rs. 5 lakh each to parents of the murdered children.

The so-called "Noida jinx" (no Chief Minister from Mr. Yadav in 1995 to Mayawati in 2002 was able to save his "gaddi" after visiting Noida), is reported to have prompted the Chief Minister to stay away.

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