(Eds: Updating with quotes, minister's apology)Guwahati, Nov 23 (PTI) Facing flak over his remarks thatlife-threatening diseases were a result of past sins, AssamHealth Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said he was quotedout of context and apologised to those hurt by the "absolutelymindless controversy triggered by few political desperados".
His remarks that some people suffer from diseases such ascancer because of sins committed in the past and that it is"divine justice" have sparked sharp reactions.
In a press release, Sarma said, "My speech on divinejustice and karmic deficiency is being quoted out of context.
In their bid to trivialise and sensationalise, no one islooking at the content of my whole speech and intent.""It was said in the context of helping poor students ofgovernment schools and as request to teachers not to neglectthem. It was also a message to indicate district educationofficers not to harass teachers, he said.
"But the way a section of national media, local mediaand few in Congress party are now playing with the story, I ampained to say will cause agony among cancer patients and theirrelatives," he said adding he lost his father, friends andrelatives to the disease.
Slamming Sarma for his remarks, Congress leader PChidambaram had yesterday tweeted "Cancer is divine justicefor sins' says Assam Minister Sharma. That is what switchingparties does to a person," referring to his joining BJP fromCongress ahead of the Assam assembly elections in 2015.
Sarma took to Twitter earlier in the day to get back atChidambaram by referring to his quitting the Congress in 1996.
He also mentioned Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's pet,saying "After all #Pidi likes privileged people".
"Sir, please do not distort. Simply I said that Hinduismbelieves in karmic law and human sufferings are linked tokarmic deficiency of past life. Don't you believe that too? Ofcourse in your party I do not know whether Hindu philosophycan be discussed at all.
"By the way sir when did you rejoin @INCIndia ? As faras I know you were in Tamil Maanila Congress. Privilegedpeople can indulge in any activity right from Chit Fund toInxmedia, can switch party. After all #Pidi likes privilegedpeople," the Assam minister had tweeted.
Addressing a function where appointment letters weredistributed to teachers here yesterday, Sarma had said, "Godmakes us suffer when we sin. Sometimes we come across youngmen getting inflicted with cancer or young men meeting withaccidents. If you observe the background you will come to knowthat it's divine justice. Nothing else. We have to suffer thatdivine justice."Assam Congress leader Debabratta Saikia and AIDUF leaderAminul Islam yesterday criticised Sarma's statement anddemanded that he apologise.
Some cancer patients said they were saddened by thehealth minister's remarks at a time when it is an establishedmedical fact that there are scientific reasons and variousother parameters responsible for the disease.
B B Borthakur, the medical superintendent at the state-run Dr B Barooah Cancer Institute, seeking to downplay Sarma'sremarks told PTI "I don't think the minister made the remarkon scientific basis but in a social context. I don't think itis a matter to be made into a controversy. It is not a matterto be given so much importance."In his statement, Sarma also said a "philosophicaldiscourse" (by him) purely to help poor students is beingmisused and which in turn is causing "avoidable anxiety" amongsurviving cancer patients and their close ones.
"I still believe divine justice will catch up with eachand every one of us for trying to cash in on someone elseÂ’spain to gain political mileage and cheap publicity." "I reiterate at no point my statement was intended tocause any pain to cancer patients. However, if owing to theblatant distortions, it has caused any anxiety and problems toanyone, I hereby offer my unconditional apology for the pain,"he said.
"Detachment from life, karmic action and rebirth are someof the core principles of Hindu philosophy developed over last5000 years. Western thought process can never dominate ordilute the spirit and eternal meaning of our philosophy," hereasoned.
Continuing with his defence, Sarma said, "Science has notbeen able to give answer to many of our perennial queries andtherefore at our last moment, we are asked to pray GOD.""While I am not against science, I strongly believe thereis strong merit in spirituality and teachings contained inBhagvad Gita as well as those of our ancestors. The purity ofthe philosophy and its essence help us in bringing sanity andbalance in life," he said.
Sarma claimed his passion for work in containing canceris well known in Assam. He said cancer treatment facilitiesincluding free chemotherapy and Rs 2 lakh financial help foreach of the affected, the state-of-the-art hospital with PETCT, banning of chewable tobacco and starting of a gridhospital in the state were his "humble contribution" as thehealth minister.
The Assam minister today posted another tweet on theissue. "You have to realise difference between sin and karma.
Politics can come and go. But what is written in Bhagavad Gitais for me the final truth.
"Not arguing with anyone. Only availing a hugeopportunity to speak little bit about Hindu philosophy. Weaccept that even Lord Krishna died because of karmicdeficiency. That is our philosophy," he said.
Responding to a journalist's tweet that laws of karmashould not be used to explain cancer in today's day and age,he tweeted, "Was my speech on cancer? Who told you? I simplyasked a new batch of teachers to work sincerely & work for thepoor.
"In that context I argue that if we do not worksincerely in next life we might face karmic deficiency & thatmay lead to sufferings. What is insensitive about this?" He went on to add, "Go through my speech. I never saidthat sin causes cancer. It was a speech to motivate teachersto serve the poor or otherwise you may face karmic deficiencyand suffer in next life. Science cannot promote human value.
Religion might." PTI ESB TR KKZMN.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.