Cancer is a sin of past and divine justice says BJP minister

Guwahati: Star strategist of BJP in North East, Himanta Biswa Sarma jibe at cancer patients has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters for linking accidents and life-threatening diseases like cancer to "sin... past life...and divine justice."Mr Sarma, Health Minister in the Assam Cabinet, was addressing school teachers at a government function in Guwahati on Tuesday when he talked about good and bad karma and said in Assamese, "God makes us suffer when we sin. Sometimes we come across young men getting inflicted with cancer or young men meeting with accidents.

If you observe their background you will come to know that it's divine justice. Nothing else. We have to suffer that divine justice."He also said, "In this lifetime or in our previous life, or perhaps my father or mother... perhaps that young man did not do anything, but his father has done something wrong... no one can 
escape divine justice."

The minister, who is a law graduate and has a PhD, was advising the teachers to "work hard and be honest," after distributing appointment letters to them.Leader of the opposition in the Assam assembly, Debabrata Saikia said the minister's comments has hurt cancer patients. This reflects his mentality," Mr Saikia.“Cancer is divine justice for sins' says Assam Minister Sharma. That is what switching parties does to a person," tweeted senior Congress leader P Chidambaram.Mr Sarma is credited with BJP’s success in Assam. He crossover to BJPO ahead of assembly elections in Assam.

Sibal slams Assam Minister for 'cancer is divine justice' remark

New Delhi: Congress leader and former Union Minister Kapil Sibal on Thursday slammed Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his remarks that cancer is divine justice for sins committed.

Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Mr Sibal said, 'In a post on social media, Himanta Biswa Sarma says that cancer is divine justice for sins committed. That such a person is minister is divine injustice .'The statement by Mr Sarma has drawn flak from several quarters. (UNI)