Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today said some people are born with disabilities due to the "mistake" and "negligence" committed by God.
"There are some brothers and sisters in the society, who are born with certain disabilities. God forgets to give them certain things. That is negligence on the part of God and for that the child has to suffer for entire life," Parsekar said.
"Therefore, NGOs like Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) have come into existence. The thing which God could not do, they are doing. They are rectifying the mistake committed by God. I would say NGOs' work is more than that of God," he added.
The Chief Minister was speaking at the inauguration of 'We Care Film Festival' on disability issues organised by DRAG at Margao town around 35 kms from here this morning.
However, after the event, DRAG condemned chief minister's remarks, stating that the disabled were born to show the power of God.
"CM Parskear, while speaking at the inauguration of 'We Care Film Festival' on disability at Chowgule college, Margao has said disabled people are mistake of God and NGOs are doing yeoman service by serving the disabled in rectifying God's mistake," DRAG chief Avelino D'Sa said in a statement here.
"DRAG strongly objects to this statement and clarified that if God has created a person disabled it is to show people the power of God. Disabled people have more strength and will power and they are differently-abled, hence they are stronger than the normal people," he added.
Parsekar's comments came at a time when his cabinet colleague Ramesh Tawadkar had courted a controversy last week when he said that the state would set up centres to make LGBT people "normal". The minister had retracted his statement after widespread criticism, but Twitter had a field day with it.
How do you accept these people? How could you elect these people to govern you? These people are enemy of humanity. http://t.co/Aq1c0733Dh
— Amrita Dasgupta (@amritdasgupta) January 22, 2015
No, but morons are God's mistake.
"Disabled people are God's mistake, says Goa CM Parsekar"
— Prasanto K Roy (@prasanto) January 22, 2015
I think he's God's mistake! http://t.co/j9DF2iaWVv
— Shujaat Saudagar (@ShujaatSaudagar) January 22, 2015
That's a sick thing to say...RT @firstpostin: Disabled people are God's mistake, says Goa CM Laxmikant Parsekar (1/2)
— Arundhati (@solopangolin) January 22, 2015
Clearly the most intelligent man in this country right now. http://t.co/z5IbN3xqcW
— Rahul Ganguly (@rg1283) January 22, 2015
.@ndtv Go home, Parsekar. You're drunk. 'People with special needs are 'god's mistake': #Goa Chief Minister' #India
— S. Aijaz (@SAijaz_) January 22, 2015
Goa's politicians doing us proud once again. http://t.co/o772rJgTCM
— Isheta Salgaocar (@IshetaS) January 22, 2015
First step is to admit that your God is faulty? http://t.co/gMcdmTD2UN
— Srikanth Panaman (@srikanthpanaman) January 22, 2015
#Goa#CM#Parsekar says #Disabled people are '#God'sMistake''
http://t.co/kHND6Onzd2. This guy is #God'sMistake. #BJP is #India'sMistake.
— Achtung 69 (@TheCausticIdiot) January 22, 2015
BJP leaders are losing their mental stability day by day... God Bless them....
#DifferentlyAbled#Blind... http://t.co/CaG3kZsk9Z
— Anirudha Bhakat Ch (@AnirudhaBhakat) January 22, 2015
If Disability is a mistake of God, then creating you was the biggest mistake of all Mr.Laxmikant Parsekar. #PoliticiansToBePruned
— Dhileep Sivachander (@dhil33p) January 22, 2015
.@NigelBritto Where do we house/cage this morally & intellectually crippled bugger ? http://t.co/Ov071CiT6I
— Saurav Datta (@SauravDatta29) January 21, 2015
A govt. should work towards empowering the disabled! How dare they call them "God's mistakes"! Truly disgusted with BJPs Goa CM, Parsekar!
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) January 21, 2015
Is Goa CM Laxmikant Parsekar the new Rahul Gandhi?
— Noyon Jyoti Parasara (@noyonjparasara) January 22, 2015