VK Singh in fresh row over Yemen evacuation operation remarks

NEW DELHI: Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh was today caught in a fresh controversy over his remarks comparing the Yemen evacuation operation with his visit to the Pakistani mission recently and later making snide remarks against a TV channel.

"Actually speaking, the operation (evacuation) in Yemen is less exciting than going to the Pakistani embassy," he said in Djibouti when asked about his overseeing the evacuation of Indians.

As his remarks evoked sharp reaction from political parties including Congress which said the comments were "deplorable" and showed his "insensitivity", he blamed a TV channel.

"Friends what do you you expect from presstitutes," he said in a tweet late night adding that last time the TV anchor thought there was 'O' in place of 'E'.

However, officials here said the Minister was being sarcastic and his comments were in reference to media.

A major row had erupted when Singh had attended Pakistan's National Day on March 23 at the High Commission here when several separatist leaders from Kashmir too were present.

However, after attending the reception, the former Army Chief made some mysterious tweets "disgust" and "duty" which was widely interpreted as his displeasure over being asked to represent the government at the Pakistan reception.

The next day, he called a press conference that he was fully committed to BJP, government and the Prime Minister and that his 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.