UP minister stokes row with population remark after 5 killed in house collapse
A controversy has erupted over apparently insensitive remarks made by Uttar Pradesh minister Kapil Dev Agarwal after he linked a fatal house collapse in Muzaffarnagar
A controversy has erupted over apparently insensitive remarks made by Uttar Pradesh minister Kapil Dev Agarwal after he linked a fatal house collapse in Muzaffarnagar to concerns over population growth. His comments came after a mud house in the district caved in amid heavy rainfall. A 52-year-old man and his four children were killed in the incident, which took place on Sunday.
Those who lost their lives have been identified as Islamuddin and four of his children – eight-month-old Zeeshan, two-year-old Ahad, five-year-old Alshifa, and 12-year-old Rukhsar. Read Full Story Two other children from the same family sustained serious injuries and are undergoing treatment at the hospital. While visiting the survivors at the hospital, Agarwal spoke to the media and said, "The population is increasing.
People get permanent houses, and then another new family is formed. Now they have nine children, so the government also has its limitations." The comments triggered a controversy. He, however, said that the government was working towards providing permanent houses to everyone and said that fulfilling this objective was also a leading priority for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also stated that the government stands with the affected family and has full sympathy for them.
According to an official, cited by news agency PTI, the family was having its meal inside the house when the structure suddenly collapsed under the impact of the incessant rain. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination. Ends (Based on inputs from Sandeep Saini, with additional inputs from PTI)
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