India, June 24 -- Union minister of state for railways Ravneet Singh Bittu appeared before the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission at the state civil secretariat in Chandigarh on Wednesday, tendering a written apology for objectionable language he used during a confrontation with police personnel in Dhuri on May 26.

Appearing before commission chairman Jasvir Singh Garhi on the third summons after missing two previous hearings, Bittu expressed regret over the remarks that triggered the controversy. During the hearing, Bittu also highlighted the BJP-led Union government's welfare initiatives for the Scheduled Castes community, noting that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Centre has accorded pilgrimage status to five key sites ...