Ashes must be buried on ground and saplings planted on it, says BJP minister, sparks row

New Delhi: In a statement which is not likely to go down well with majority Hindus and the saints and seers, Union Minister Satyapal Singh on Wednesday urged people to bury ashes in the grounds and plant saplings on it.

Talking to reporters, Singh said, ''As per present situation, I appeal to everyone, ashes must be buried in ground and saplings should be planted on it, so even coming generations can remember (the deceased).''

''I urge all priests, associated with rituals, to create awareness among people over it,'' the minister



said.

When asked to comment that his statement would trigger a controversy, Singh said, ''People have beliefs, but it is the demand of today's time to revisit them, we must not do anything that affects the purity of Ganga.''

The senior BJP minister, who was also a former Police Commissioner of Mumbai, had in past made several controversial statements, triggering a row.

Addressing a gathering of linguists, foreign students and local politicians at the Central Hindi Institute, Singh recently said, ''Only Hindi language can unite the country."