Farooq Abdullah kicks up controversy, then apologises

NEW DELHI: Union Minister Farooq Abdullah today kicked up a controversy by suggesting that ladies should not be hired as personal secretaries as one can land in jail if there is any complaint of sexual harassment but apologised hours later for the comment.

"These days the situation is such that one is scared of talking to girls. We feel that a lady should not be hired as a secretary. God forbidding, if there is some complaint we may land in jail," the National Conference leader told reporters outside Parliament House.

The New and Renewable Energy Minister was responding to queries about sexual assault cases involving important dignitaries.

Asked whether he was blaming the fair sex, he said, "No, no, I am not blaming the girl. I am blaming society itself. The society has reached a stage where complaints are coming from the other side."

"Rapes should not take place. The number of girls has gone down. When a child is born we pray for a son. When a girl is born we cry," Abdullah said.

The comment came in for criticism and even his son Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, said he should apologise.

The Union Minister then sought to wriggle out of controvery, "people are misunderstanding things and they are misquoting things in many ways."

"I feel terribly sorry that people are misunderstanding things and they are misquoting things in many ways. There is no question of anything to derogate. I feel time has come there must have justice and there must have 33 per cent reservation in the Parliament as quickly as possible," he said.

"If something goes wrong, I am sorry for that. I never meant it in the manner that people have taken it," he added.