CHENNAI: Union minister Shobha Karandlaje in an affidavit on Tuesday apologised to the people of Tamil Nadu for her remark that people involved in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast in Bengaluru were trained in Tamil Nadu. “I state that the alleged comment made by me about the people of Tamil Nadu while addressing media about the Rameshwaram cafe bomb blast case in Bengaluru was made without any intention to hurt the sentiments and feelings of the people of Tamil Nadu,” she said.
I have the highest respect and regard for the history, rich culture, tradition, and people of Tamil Nadu, and I had or have no intention whatsoever to hurt the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu by any conduct of mine. Hence, I hereby once again tender my apology to the people of Tamil Nadu for having caused any hurt from my comments. The same may kindly be taken on record in the interest of justice,” Karandlaje added.
The affidavit was filed on a plea moved by her seeking to quash an FIR registered in connection with the case.
Recording the submissions, Justice G Jayachandran adjourned the hearing to Sept 5.
On Aug 7, the Tamil Nadu govt informed the HC that the case against Karandlaje can be quashed if she calls a press conference and apologises for her remarks alleging the involvement of Tamil people in the blast.
According to the minister, the case was politically motivated and she sought an interim injunction against the police from proceeding with the probe.
Opposing the plea, police submitted that the investigating agency, NIA, had arrested some people from West Bengal.
They did not make any statements on the suspects, but the minister had made the statements in public and video footage showed her intention.