NEW DELHI, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- A lawmaker from India's ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) Nepal Singh triggered a row saying those who serve in country's army were bound to die.
"They die every day in the Army. Is there a country in which Army personnel don't get killed in a fight?" Singh told media in response to the latest killing of five paramilitary troopers in a gunfight with militants in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"Whenever there is a scuffle in a village, someone is bound to get injured," he said. "Tell me one device that can help in saving lives. Say any such device that can make the bullets ineffective and we will get that implemented."
Singh is a lawmaker from India's Uttar Pradesh.
His comment sparked a controversy on social media networking sites and were seen as insulting towards the Indian Army.
The criticism forced Singh to defend himself saying he has not insulted army.
"I have not insulted the army. I am sad, I apologize but I have not said anything like that," he said in a clarification.
The comments come a day after Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh condemned the attack on the India's paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, saying "sacrifice of the soldiers won't go in vain."
On early Sunday three militants believed to be fidayeen (suicide attackers) stormed CRPF camp firing bullets and grenades in Pulwama district of region. The militants engaged the paramilitary inside their training camp, killing five CRPF personnel and wounding three others.
