Ahmedabad: Union minister Parshottam Rupala, whose remarks about Kshatriyas triggered widespread protests among the Rajput community in Gujarat, on Wednesday apologized again for his remarks, saying the BJP was embroiled in the ensuing controversy .
“It is very painful for me because the party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have suffered because of me,” Rupala said at a press conference on Wednesday, the second time that Gujarat voted in the Lok Sabha elections. sky.
The minister described the just-concluded election as the most difficult period of his four-decade political career and said he decided to apologize again a day after the vote to emphasize that his apology was not just about gaining an electoral advantage.
Also read: Historic City | How to explain the uproar over Rupala’s remarks
“Today, I humbly apologize again,” he said.
Rupala, who hails from the Patidhar community, has been embroiled in a huge political row over his remarks at a small Dalit gathering on March 22. Our religion also has no relationship with them and we are the true inheritors of Sanatan Dharma,” he said.
Also read: How Rupala’s comments sparked caste-based challenge to BJP in Gujarat
The Rajput community immediately demanded that the BJP drop Rupala as its candidate for the Rajkot Lok Sabha elections, but the party did not budge, angering the Kshatriya-Rajput community.
Rupala said his oratory skills were once an asset to the BJP but this time his comments about the Rajput community have landed him in trouble. “I admit it and take full responsibility. I am human and humans make mistakes. I apologized immediately, even before the Rajputs protested. Later, I apologized to the community,” he said.
Also read: Why the BJP is not afraid of protests from the Rajput community
The BJP leader also praised the Kshatriya community for not blocking the May 7 polls. “Their conduct yesterday deserves high praise and I would like to thank the Kshatriya community for not creating any obstacles in the electoral process yesterday.”
The turnout in Rajkot was 59.6%.
Rupala is competing against Congress leader Paresh Dhanani, who belongs to the powerful Leuva Patidar community, for the Rajkot Lok Sabha seat. Sabha) seats.