GUWAHATI, Nov 23 - Landing in a controversy over his purported remarks linking death by cancer or road accidents to divine justice, State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today claimed that his comments were �twisted and quoted out of context�. He offered an �unconditional apology� for any pain caused.
In a clarification sent to media, he said, �My speech on divine justice and Karmic deficiency is being quoted out of context. In their bid to trivialize and sensationalise, no one is looking at content of my whole speech and intent.�
Earlier, his comments drew criticism from across the country, most of them resorting to social media to criticise Sarma�s statement.
�Cancer is divine justice for sins� says Assam Minister Sharma. That is what switching parties does to a person,� tweeted senior Congress leader P Chidambaram.
Leader of the opposition in the Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia said the minister�s comments has hurt cancer patients. �This reflects his mentality,� Saikia said.
The AIUDF said such a statement was unbecoming of a minister in this age of science and technology.