After tasteless joke on dead journalist, MP's BJP minister says he was misread

Bhopal: Even as journalist Akshay Singh’s family is coping with news of his death, Madhya Pradesh Cabinet minister Kailash Vijayvargiya has tastelessly rub some salt into their wound.

When asked to comment on Singh's death, Vijayvargiya on Sunday told reporters, "Is a journalist bigger than me?" (Read: He wanted the conversation to be focused on him.)

However, the minister later backtracked on his statement, saying his ‘joke’ was taken out of context.

Read: Medical college dean linked to Vyapam scam found dead in hotel room in Delhi

“My statement has been twisted, I was joking with some other journalist, it was not about late Akshay Singh. I did not say that about Akshay Singh. I strongly condemn this,” he said.

Singh passed away in Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday under mysterious circumstances.

According to TV reports, Vijayvargiya made this statement in the presence of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who had strongly condemned the incident.

Read: Vyapam scam: No 'foul play' in journalist's death, claims medical officer; CM assures of fair probe

Chouhan also agreed to send Akshay’s viscera samples to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi for examination.

The Centre has also said that a "very fair inquiry" should be conducted to put to rest all doubts over Akshay’s death.

Congress has demanded a CBI probe into the case.

At least 25 accused and witnesses have died so far in the 'Vyapam' scam, while some reports claim that 44 people associated with the scam have 'lost' their lives.

Read: Centre for 'very fair inquiry'; Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal attend funeral