"Rasana is a chhoti si baat (minor issue)...[b] We have to think this should never happen again and the child gets justice. [b] There are many challenges like this facing the government. We should not give Rasana so much bhaav(importance)," Mr Gupta told reporters.
The comment was received with shock and disbelief after a revamp that was linked widely to the outrage over the BJP's former ministers participating in a rally in support of the men arrested for kidnapping, drugging, gang-raping and murdering the child in Kathua's Rasana village.
All eight accused are Hindu while the little girl belonged to a Muslim nomadic tribe.
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