Raipur: Chhattisgarh minister Kawasi Lakhma has found himself in soup after he advised a boy to “hold the collar of the SP and Collector, to become a big politician”. The minister’s statements were caught on camera and has since landed him in trouble. 

Commercial Tax (Excise) and Industry Minister Kawasi Lakhma had reportedly made the remark during Teachers' Day celebration on September 5 in a government school in Sukma district headquarters of the state.

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In the video, the Congress minister can be seen sitting among school children and heard narrating a recent incident with the students. Lakhma is heard saying to some people who were not in the frame, that once he was asked by a student how he become a "big leader".

"The boy asked me how I became a big politician and what he had to do (to become a political leader)'. I told him to hold the collar of SP (superintendent of police) or (district) collector,” he is heard saying in the video. 

What is even more appalling is that students and others were seen laughing at his comment.

When questioned about his comments, a news portal quoted Lakhma as saying that he had been "misquoted" and had never mentioned about holding the "collar of SP or collector".

He further was quoted, "Once when a student asked me what he should do to become a leader like me, I told him to study well and then fight for the public cause on the street and do hard struggle.”

"The statement of holding the collar of SP and collector, which being shown, is fake. I told him to struggle hard to become a leader, Lakhma told PTI over the phone.

The video was shared by former minister and BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar on Twitter who sarcastically wrote congratulations to Bhupesh Baghel ji. Your minister has used good words for the executive.

"It would be better if you (CM) send him to Kurud (Chandrakars constituency) so that he can re-inaugurate public works dedicated by me. This will strengthen the democracy, Chandrakar tweeted.