Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, summoned by the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission over casteist remarks towards police, appeared before the commission in Chandigarh. He expressed regret for his words and committed to respecting the Scheduled Caste community. Ravneet Singh also apologized in writing and acknowledged the legal wrongfulness of his statements.
The controversy stemmed from an incident during Municipal Council elections in Dhuri town, Sangrur district. Ravneet Singh got into a dispute with police while protesting a BJP leader’s arrest, leading to alleged objectionable remarks. Viral videos prompted the commission to intervene, seeking a report from the police and summoning Ravneet Singh personally.
Previously represented by lawyers, Ravneet Singh was directed by the Commission to appear in person. The commission emphasized that his words and actions had the potential to disrupt communal harmony in Punjab. In the interest of social harmony, Ravneet Singh was instructed to visit four religious sites associated with the Scheduled Caste community to pay his respects.
