On Sunday, Haryana Agriculture Minister JP Dalal apologised for his "they would have died even at home" statement on the deaths of farmers at various protest sites after the minister faced severe backlash on social media for his remarks.

JP Dalal also later said it is painful if anyone dies.

While he did not clarify why he made the "they would have died even at home" statement when asked about the farmers' deaths at protest sites, JP Dalal did maintain that they were "misinterpreted".

"If anyone is hurt by my statements, then, I apologise. My statement has been misinterpreted. I am committed to the welfare of farmers," Haryana Agriculture Minister JP Dalal was quoted as saying by ANI.

WHAT DID JP DALAL SAY ON FARMERS' PROTEST DEATHS?

The Agriculture Minister made the remark on Saturday in Bhiwani in response to a reporter's query over the 'death of 200 farmers' during the protests.

"Would not they've died if they were at home? Out of 1-2 lakh people, don't 200 people die in 6 months? Someone is dying of a heart attack and someone after falling ill. I express my sympathies towards them," JP Dalal had said.

Check out the video here:

#WATCH Would not they've died if they were at home? Out of 1-2 lakh people, don't 200 people die in 6 months? They've died with their own will. I express my sympathies towards them: Haryana Agri Min JP Dalal on the death of farmers during ongoing protest against farm laws (13.02) pic.twitter.com/qDswOWROac

— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2021

Several Punjab and Haryana farmers, participating in farmers' agitation against the Centre's three farm laws at various Delhi border points, have died of different reasons including cardiac arrest.

Hours after making the statement, the Haryana agriculture minister said he has seen "twisted" statements, attributed to him, on social media. He said "wrong meaning" was given to his statements.

If anyone is hurt by my statements, then, I apologise. My statement has been misinterpreted. I am committed to the welfare of farmers, clarified Haryana Agriculture Minister JP Dalal yesterday pic.twitter.com/2NpUlPKRe9

— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2021

Soon, people started taking to social media to react to this "insensitive" remark.

Here’s how people on the micro-blogging site reacted to his statement:

Govt is totally ignoring this issue and taking it lightly but we the people of Haryana don't do the same #haryanagovtfails

— Pranant Saroha (@PranantSaroha) February 14, 2021

He should talk about farmers suicides. Around 800 commit suicide every month with the laws and market being regulated.

— Deep Chatterjee (@deep_chatterji) February 14, 2021

First dey said Wat dey actually mean n den give contradictory explanations. Like PM first insulted by inventing d word of #andolanjeevi but next day gave a contradictory explanation to differentiate between #andolankari and #andolanjivi r they really thinking abt welfare?

— 🏻‍⚖️ (@AdvocateNaari) February 14, 2021

Tere ghar Wale hote tho pata chalta

— Harish Malve (@HarishMalve007) February 14, 2021

He appears frustrated that only 200 died!

— Arif (@harip_rk) February 14, 2021

No words to condemn this!

— Ghanshyam Binnani (@GDBinnani) February 14, 2021

Meanwhile, even Haryana Congress chief Kumari Selja slammed Dalal for his statement. "This reaction and laughter of the Haryana agriculture minister on the sacrifice of our farmer brothers are very sad," she said in a tweet. 

Tell us your thoughts on this in the comments section below. 

(With PTI inputs)

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