Punjab’s Higher Education Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra triggered a wave of outrage on Saturday when he said that the death of 13-year-old Arshdeep Kaur, who was allegedly molested and pushed out of a bus owned by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal’s Orbit Aviation, was “God’s will”. READ: As all parties flock to family of girl, Sukhbir takes his buses off the road After the comments, beamed by TV channels, drew widespread criticism, the minister denied making such a statement and claimed he was talking about crop failure. READ: AAP, CTU union halt Orbit buses, lay siege to depot Nobody can stop accidents; whatever happens that happens by god’s wish: Surjit Singh Rakhra (Education Min, Punjab) pic.twitter.com/qCEa6eW3EC — ANI (@ANI_news) May 2, 2015 Talking to reporters in Patiala, Rakhra had said: “Nobody can stop accidents. Whatever happens is by God’s will. The incident was unfortunate but you cannot go against the nature’s will.” Ministers of Akali Dal-BJP Govt are giving out insensitive statements,it's completely inhuman: RS Surjewala on Surjit Singh Rakhra's comment — ANI (@ANI_news) May 2, 2015 Later, he told The Sunday Express, “I was asked about the status of wheat procurement in state. I said that is due to God’s will that inclement weather destroyed the crop in state.” “I was also asked about new girls’ colleges in state and students who meet with accidents on roads. I said that it is unfortunate and government needs to take precautions but we cannot stop all accidents and people, too, need to take precautions,” he said.
