HP MLA withdraws remark but not sorry

The protesters,supported by Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh and Himachal Punjab Gorkha Association,urged BJP national president Rajnath Singh and state party chief Satpal Singh Satti to “take action against the erring MLA” or face protests across the country. They also submitted a memorandum to the Governor through Deputy Commissioner,Kangra,seeking an apology from the BJP leader beside withdrawal of his “racist” remarks .

Ravi refused to tender an apology,but asked the Speaker B B L Butail to allow him to withdraw his remarks. “While participating in the debate on the subject how to control monkey menace,I inadvertently made a mention about Gurkha regiment etc. I rise to seek your permission to withdraw those remarks. It may be allowed,” Ravi said. The Speaker allowed his plea.

Last week,while participating in the debate,Ravi had suggested that “if Gurkha or Naga regiments are posted in Himachal,it will definitely have an impact on the population of monkeys.” He had also claimed that a few years back when a regiment was posted near Palampur,the monkey population in the area had seen a decline.