"Main daaru peeke baitha hoon? (Am I drunk and whiling away my time)."
This was how Home Minister Shivraj Patil reacted to questions on media criticism of him, especially his change of three sets of clothes on the night of Delhi blasts on Saturday.
"Main so gaya, main patte khel raha hoon, main daru peeke baitha hoon, main dance club jaata hoon toh aap mujhe dosh dijiye (Blame me if I am sleeping (on the job), playing cards, drinking and whiling away time and frequenting dance clubs)," he told India TV.
The reporter showed him a combination photo of the three different suits he wore on that evening and wanted to know his reply to his criticism on that.
A visibly upset Home Minister said he was distressed at the level of debate that they were now discussing his dress.
"After 13 hours of work if I take bath and change dress, is it a crime?" he said.
To a question that he was "not on the job" for four hours that evening, Patil said "he was not an inspector to sit in a police station all the time."
He said he was in a meeting of the Congress party where all the leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister were present. The moment he returned, the situation developed, Patil added.
{{/usCountry}}He said he was in a meeting of the Congress party where all the leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister were present. The moment he returned, the situation developed, Patil added.
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