Bhopal: Bharatiya Janata Pary leader Uma Bharati has apologised for her 'intemperate language' after triggering row over remarks that bureaucrats are 'to pick our slippers.'
"I am sorry, I used intemperate language when my expressions were good. I learned this lesson from today that moderate language should be used even in informal conversations between limited people," Bharti said. Bharati even went to the extend of rectifying her stance on bureaucracy. She said that honest bureaucracy supports a strong, true and well-intentioned leader sitting in power. Terming the meeting to be an informal one, she came up with explanation on Twitter on Monday. Meanwhile, earlier she had stated "the truth is we use them for our politics."
"Some of us leaders - the incompetent ones sitting in power - take the guise of bureaucracy to avoid their inefficiency that 'we are very good but bureaucracy does not allow us to do good work'. Whereas the truth is that honest bureaucracy supports a strong, true and well-intentioned leader sitting in power. This is my experience," she said.
"The day before yesterday at my residence in Bhopal, I met a delegation of backward classes. This meeting was not a formal one. The video of that entire conversation has gone viral in the media. I am thankful to the media that they showed my complete video because I was speaking in defence of bureaucracy."
The 62-year-old BJP leader made the remarks during a meeting with OBC delegation at her residence on Saturday. The delegation raised demand for a caste-based census and quota in private jobs. They also reportedly threatened of protesting if swift decision is not taken.
Congress pulled up her statements and called her comments shameful. "Will Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan clarify whether bureaucrats actually pick up slippers of politicians," Congress leader KK Mishra said.
In the video that did round on social media, Uma Bharti was heard saying, "Bureaucracy is nothing. Bureaucracy is there to pick up chappals (slippers). It picks up our slippers. We only allow that."
"You think bureaucrats control politicians? No. First there are discussions in private and then the bureaucracy prepares a file and gets it. Ask me - for 11 years I have been Union Minister and chief minister. First we have a discussion and then the file is processed. It's all nonsense that bureaucracy controls the politicians. They can't... what is their standing? We are giving them a salary, we are giving them postings, we are giving them promotions and demotion - what can they do? The truth is we use them for our politics," said Bharati.
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