September 25, 2008	Thursday	Ramazan 24, 1429

NEW DELHI, Sept 24: India’s labour minister on Wednesday apologised for expressing his support for sacked workers who beat their former boss to death, after his comments triggered widespread outrage.

Oscar Fernandes had defended former employees of car parts maker Graziano Transmissioni who attacked chief executive Lalit Kishore Chaudhary at the Italian firm’s offices near New Delhi on Monday.

“My profound apologies to everybody who feels hurt,” Fernandes was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India. “I would like to put an end to this chapter by saying I am sorry.” The minister’s previous remarks that workers “should be dealt with compassion” and that the killing “should serve as a warning for management” shocked many Indians. Chaudhary, 47, died of head injuries after being attacked by more than 100 workers who had been sacked a few months ago.—AFP