JOIN USAfter assuming charge as the Minister of State (MoS) for Home on Tuesday, RPN Singh expressed concern over communal violence in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and said that the Centre would provide additional security forces if the state government placed a request.
Singh, who comes from eastern UP, replaced Jitender Singh as one of the two MoS (Home).
“I think it is very unfortunate and disturbing that riots have taken place. We will have to ask the state government whether they need more central forces,” Singh told reporters when his views were sought on recurring communal violence in the state.
He did not rule out the possibility of speaking to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to discuss ways to restore the situation back to normal. “If necessary I will speak to the chief minister. Law and order is a state subject, but we will see what can be done to help them,” he said.
On Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s comment that Union Minister Shashi Tharoor’s has a “Rs 50 crore girlfriend”, he said it “reflected the mindset” of the person concerned.
“It is very derogatory and outrageous. This is against Indian ethos and culture,” he remarked. Listing out his priority in the North Block, Singh stated that he will focus on providing safety and security to people and their property.
“I will do my best to live up to the expectations of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi, who have bestowed me with the new responsibility,” he said.