Union Minister Apologizes After Calling Mallya Smart

Hyderabad: Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Jual Oram, who drew criticism for recently describing fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya as 'smart' for being successful by using his influence with bankers and politicians, on Saturday apologised for the remarks.

On Friday, the Minister attended the National Tribal Entrepreneurs Conclave 2018 in city, where he said that scheduled castes and tribes should control power by becoming smart entrepreneurs.

Fugitive Vijay Mallya, who fled to the United Kingdom in 2016, is undergoing an extradition trial in the UK over fraud and money laundering charges by Indian authorities.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi wishes that SC and STs should no longer remain as job-seekers but job givers. The centre will encourage tribal entrepreneurs though various schemes," the minister said.

However, Oram admitted his mistake and said he should have taken some other businessman's name instead of that of Mallya.

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