Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, whose controversial remarks on racism created a furore, says "he stands by every single word he said" during his speech in Singapore.
"As I told you earlier that I stand by every word that I said," Lal Thanhawla told rediff.com in an exclusive interview.
He adds that he still does not know who issued a denial on his behalf.
"Some people with vested interests may have done it. I have nothing to say in this respect," Lal Thanwala said.
He denied that he went into hiding and extended his foreign trip to Hong Kong to evade the heat generated by the controversy.
The moment Lal Thanhawla and his family landed in Singapore his hosts told him that he did not look like Indians.
"There is no question of going into hiding. Congress president Sonia Gandhi and rest of the leadership of the Congress know me well. I told my hosts that I am an Indian first. That should give a blow to those who have been trying to run me down," he said.
He met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, seeking financial assistance to put the state back on rails.
"Zoramthanga has destroyed Mizoram financially. He did not ask even a single word about my speech in Singapore. He promised to direct planning commission to look into our demands and take necessary steps to resurrect our sagging economy," said Thanhawla.
