Chhattisgarh Deputy CM T S Singh Deo Apologises To Top Congress Body For Praising PM Modi

Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo has apologised for his remarks praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a rally in the state.

Singh Deo - who was invited to the extended Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting as the member of the party's Central Election Committee - informed his colleagues that he would like to apologise for his remarks.

The Chhattisgarh Deputy CM said that he had already apologised to Kumari Selja, the Congress in-charge for Chhattisgarh, after she had brought the remarks to his attention. He then expressed another round of apology to the members of the CWC.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge responded to Singh Deo's apology, stating that despite his remorse, "the damage had been done".

"As a deputy Chief Minister and a senior member, people would take his words seriously,” Kharge said, The Hindu reported citing a leader who was present at the meeting.

The incident involving Singh Deo was reportedly also highlighted by Kharge as a cautionary example for others in the party. During an event in Raigarh on Thursday, PM Modi announced various development initiatives for Chhattisgarh.

Singh Deo had said that the State government always operated under the guidance of the Central government.

"I do not want to miss out on saying that, in my experience, I did not feel any discrimination… In the State, when we asked for something from the Central government, they… never denied help. And I believe that going forward, the State and Centre will work together in all the fields to take our country and State forward,” Singh Deo had said with PM Modi responding with folded hands.

However, the party's central leadership downplayed Singh Deo's comments, stating that he adhered to protocol by refraining from bringing politics into a government function.

During a press conference on Saturday discussing the CWC deliberations, senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram was asked about Singh Deo's statements.

“The Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister was participating in an official function, in which the Central government and State government were launching a project. Protocol required that he doesn’t bring issues or areas of disagreement in such a meeting," he said.