Members of the Vaishya community on Friday sought an apology from Uttar Pradesh minister Dinesh Khatik for allegedly insulting them and trying to divide Hindu society.
A controversy had erupted after Khatik, the state Jal Shakti minister, on October 4 allegedly said he was not a baniya's (the trading caste) son in a derogatory way.
Khatik had gone to Parikshitgarh to meet the family members of Deepak Tyagi who was beheaded last week by a man as he suspected him of being in a relationship with his daughter.
As he was addressing people gathered there, someone interrupted Khatik who lost his cool and responded, "Don't be arrogant, I may have become an MLA but still belong to the village. I am neither from the city nor a baniya's son (baniye ki aulad)".
After a clip of the incident went viral on social media, several Vaishya community members, including BJP leaders, condemned Khatik and sought his apology.
Members of the Vaishya Samaj Seva Samiti submitted a memorandum against Khatik to the DM and staged protest, saying if the minister cannot respect the community, then he need not insult it. -- PTI