In an embarrassment to ruling BJP in Haryana, Krishan Kumar Bedi, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, was caught on tape while allegedly mocking the Prime Minister’s ‘Swachh Bharat’ campaign, prompting the opposition to take a swipe at the State government over “lack of seriousness“.
“Don’t know what all Modi will make us do,” Mr. Bedi is purportedly heard saying in TV footage as he held a broom in his hand while cleaning a ground in Fatehabad.
After the Minister’s remarks, other officials present at the spot with him burst into laughter. When Mr. Bedi noticed that his comments may have been captured by media present at the spot, he asked them, “I hope you are not recording it. Don’t make me land in any trouble.”
When reporters later sought clarification from Mr. Bedi about his remarks, he said “Someone had brought to my notice that some officials are not taking the campaign seriously. I was telling the officials that some people are trying to publicise the fact that they (officials) are being forced to pick up the broom because of (PM) Modi.”
“I was bringing this fact to their notice that such an impression should not go out (that officials were not willingly picking up the broom to clean). Now, if someone has done some (video) recording and linked with my comment in this manner, then it is not right. I was only apprising the officials and the whole issue was in that context only and not anything else.”
Haryana Congress president Ashok Tanwar said BJP Ministers “are not keen on real service and tackling real issues, but they just believe in tokenism”.
