Former Rajasthan minister Amin Khan, who was forced to resign from Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's cabinet following his controversial remarks against President Pratibha Patil, claims that his opponents had blown the issue out of proportion with the connivance of the media.
Khan, who was the minister of state for rural development, panchayati raj and wakf, made the alleged remarks at a meeting of Congress workers in Pali district on February 8.
Khan had created a furore by allegedly stating that Patil was made President due to her loyalty to the Gandhi family and cited instances of her association with Indira Gandhi.
A section of the local media quoted Khan as having told party workers that Patil was so dedicated that "she used to make tea and cook food at Indira Gandhi's residence".
In a telephonic conversation with rediff.com from his residence in Jaipur, Khan admitted that he had made certain statements that he should not have, but expressed deep regret for committing such a "blunder".
"I should not have said what I said about Mrs Gandhi's kitchen and other related issues," he said.
Khan claimed that he was a staunch loyalist of the party and the only Muslim leader from Rajasthan who had stood by then prime minister Indira Gandhi after her humiliating defeat in the 1977 elections.
"I come from a poor family. My village is located in the border area of Barmer sector. I joined the Congress in 1955," he said.
Though Khan issued a statement expressing regret over the incident, he was asked to tender his resignation. "Congress president Sonia Gandhi had made up her mind. She summoned Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to New Delhi and directed him to seek my resignation. I followed the directive and tendered my resignation," said Khan.
"I have been told that the President was deeply hurt by my remarks and conveyed her feelings to Sonia Gandhi, who told the chief minister to seek my resignation. When I look back, I feel that I should not have dragged the name of the honourable President into the controversy," he said.
Trying to justify his remarks, Khan said they were made in a different context.
"At the Pali meeting, Congress workers wanted to know why their services were not recognised by the party high command and why they were being denied party posts. I was trying to tell them that they should be patient as loyalty always pays. I tried to cite President Patil's case as an example of loyalty (towards the party) being rewarded. But swept away by emotions, I said certain things which I should not have said," he added.
