Patna: Bihar minister and BJP leader Binod Singh came under sharp attack from the family members of the slain CRPF Jawan Mujahid Khan and opposition parties for his controversial remarks when he said his presence in the last rites would not have made the martyr alive.
Imtiaz Ahmad, brother of Mujahid who succumbed to injuries after fighting with militants in Karan Nagar area of Kashmir, termed the minister’s remark as highly offensive and appealed people to teach him a lesson in the elections.
“The state government first insulted us by giving a cheque of Rs five lakh. Now a minister is using such a language for my brother who sacrificed his life for the nation,” he said.
Opposition parties Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress lashed out at the minister for his comment. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said minister’s remark has enraged the people and he would be visiting the grieving family on Saturday.
Another RJD leader Shivanand Tiwary slammed the state government’s compensation policy which, he said, differentiates between para-military forces and the army. The state government provides Rs five lakh as compensation to the next of kin of the deceased serving in para-military forces and Rs 10 lakh to the family of an army man.
Congress state president Kaukab Qadri asked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take strong action against the mines minister Binod Singh saying a leader holding constitutional position can’t be allowed to make such a defaming statement.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders tried to control the damage as Binod Singh himself clarified that his statement was shown in a distorted manner and he never intended to defame his martyrdom. “I was in Katihar and travelled more than 400 kilometres to reach Piro, where Mujahid’s funeral took place. Why will I make such comment? The journalist was asking relentlessly why I could not attend the funeral in time which agitated me and it was not directed against anyone else.”
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