New Delhi, July 1: Union Minister of State for HRD Satyapal Singh on Saturday refused to budge from his stand against Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. He said that he did not consider himself evolved from a monkey. His statement has fanned the flames.

Singh was speaking at a function to release the book ‘Politics For A New India’, by Shriprakash Singh, at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. The former Mumbai police commissioner said that the remarks which he had made in January about the need to change Darwin’s theory of evolution in school and college curriculum were not a joke, but he had said this after putting serious thought into it.

After Singh’s remarks in January, Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar had also asked him for not making such comments. His remarks also drew flak from people. “I had made the statement (in January) after putting thoughts into it. It was not a joke. I am a Science student, and I have done PhD. I understand science. People who want to speak against me will speak, but there were many who rallied behind me, supporting what I said,” reported Indian Express quoting Singh as saying.

He also said that politicians were not so educated like him and he was proud of it. He further added that he had a knowledge of Indian culture even after studying in universities. RSS leader J Nandakumar, Akhil Bharatiya Sanyojak, Prajna Pravah while speaking at the event, also blamed the education system for confusing the children.

In January, Singh raised objections on Darwin’s theory of evolution. He said that nobody, including our ancestors, in written or oral (history) said that they had seen an ape turning into a man. However, Javadekar asked Singh to refrain himself from making such comments which dilutes the sciences. Singh, the former commissioner of Mumbai police, is Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) MP from Bhagpat.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 01, 2018 10:18 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).