I have not offered to quit: V K Singh

NEW DELHI: Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh tonight said he has not offered to resign in the wake of the raging controversy over his tweets after attending the national day reception at Pakistan High Commission and that he is "fully committed" to the BJP and the government.

Accusing sections of the media of making a mountain out of mole hill over his tweets, Singh said an unnecessary controversy was created with some questioning his nationalistic credentials.

"My tweets were directed only towards those section of the media that have questioned the intent of my government and also the stance on countering Pakistan sponsored terror. I feel that it is also important for me to clarify that I am fully committed to my party, the government and specially my Prime Minister," Singh said in a statement he read out before the media at his residence.

The Minister said there was "nothing new" in Kashmiri separatists attending the Pakistan High Commission function as they have been doing this year after year.

Asked whether he has offered to quit, Singh said, "I have not made any such offer. Sometimes some people show something by concocting it on their own. Ask them from where this news has come."

The former Army Chief said attending the Pakistan's National Day celebrations at the Pakistan High Commission was a protocol that every minister of state for External Affairs has followed in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

"The only difference this time was of optics as previous Chief of Army staff was seen there though people forgot that he was a minister of state in the present government," Singh said.

Shortly after representing the Government at the national day reception at Pakistan High Commission last night, Singh had issued a series of intriguing tweets defining "disgust" and "duty".

The Congress demanded that either he should quit or the government should sack him.