VIP culture over Sukma martyrs: Truck halted for Nitish's convoy
A week after the central government banned beacons on vehicles to curb VIP culture, a vehicle carrying the body of one of the Sukma martyrs was halted to make way for CM Nitish Kumar's convoy. No minister or senior government official was present at the Patna airport to receive the mortal remains of five martyrs either. This has raised a major controversy.
Ministers were attending function 100m away from airport
The mortal remains of five Sukma martyrs from Bihar were brought via Patna airport; another was transported via Varanasi airport. At the time, CM Kumar, deputy Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and other ministers were attending a function of Bihar State Road Development Corporation on Airport Road, barely 100m away. JD(U)'s Shyam Rajak was the sole government representative at the airport.
Video shows truck carrying martyr's body halted for 15 mins
On top of that, a video surfaced showing a truck carrying the body of a martyr was stopped to let Kumar's convoy pass. A CRPF official confirmed the same. The truck seen behind the gate here is allegedly carrying the body of a martyr, while several cars of Kumar's convoy exit from Road Development Corporation function; it was reportedly halted for 15 minutes.
BJP's Ram Kripal Yadav slams Nitish government
Union Minister Ram Kripal Yadav, a BJP leader present at the airport, slammed the JD(U) government over 'insensitivity'. "This is the first time I have seen that six sons of the soil died for the nation on a single day, and the CM, despite being in the vicinity, didn't have the time to pay his respects, nor did he send any of his ministers."
