SRINAGAR: More than two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the rape and murder of the eight-year-old girl in Kathua consequential in the dismiss of two BJP ministers in the Jammu and Kashmir government, the recently inducted deputy CM of the party, Kavinder Gupta, sparked controversy on Monday by terming the crime as  "chhoti si baat" (minor issue).

Gupta's remark on the Kathua case came even as the stimulation of another BJP MLA, Rajiv Jasrotia, in the cabinet received extensive condemnation because of his involvement in a Hindu Ekta Manch rally in hold up of the Kathua case accused. BJP MLAs Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga had dismissed as ministers because of their participation in this public meeting in Kathua on April 4.

Soon after six MLAs of BJP and two of PDP were introduced in the Mehbooba Mufti government as part of the reshuffle on Monday, Gupta in a press meet to reporters, "Kathua maamla ek choti si baat hai, usko itni tool deni nahi chahiye (The Kathua episode is a minor issue, it shouldn't have been given so much build up”) adding that "we have to think how such incidents should never happen again and the child gets justice

The reshuffle was required by the dismissal of Lal Singh and Ganga. Along with Samba MLA Kuldeep Raj, Jasrotia, who represents Kathua seat in the assembly, was involved in getting Lal Singh and Ganga to the public meeting. The crime branch had approached Jasrotia during inquiry in the Kathua case and had verbal to him.