Couple begs to pay Rs 50,000 'bribe' to get son's body from Bihar hospital
Samastipur (Bihar), Jun 9: An elderly couple was allegedly forced to beg on the streets to collect Rs 50,000 to pay as a bribe to an employee of a government hospital in Bihar's Samastipur district for getting their son's body released from there.
After a video showing the couple begging has gone viral, the authorities ordered a probe into the matter and handed over the body to his parents.
This is shame on humanity," Samastipur Civil Surgeon SK Chaudhary told reporters.
Mahesh Thakur, the father of the deceased, said his son had gone missing on May 25 and his body was found in Bejhadih village in the district on June 7. The local police sent the body to the mortuary of Samastipur district hospital.
After Thakur came to know about it, he went to the hospital and identified the body.
An employee of the mortuary demanded Rs 50,000 to release the body of my son. We are poor people, how can we pay that hefty amount?" Thakur said.
So, he and his wife started begging money from people but managed to collect only Rs 2000. Thakur claimed he requested the employee to accept that and release his son's body, but in vain.
After that, we decided to perform the last rites of our son without collecting the body, he said.
The civil surgeon said a committee has been formed to probe the matter.
Strict action will be taken against those who will be found guilty, Chaudhary said.
Reacting to the report, election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor targeted Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over his claims of sushasan (good governance).
Humanity is ashamed, yet #NitishKumar's claim of good governance is intact!!! Kishor tweeted in Hindi.
Shiv Sena MP from Maharashtra, Priyanka Chaturvedi, urged Kumar to take strict action against the hospital, saying the matter is depressing to the core .
मानवता शर्मसार, फिर भी #NitishKumar जी
— Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) June 9, 2022
का सुशासन का दावा बरकरार!!
https://t.co/E3eV3aSOjV
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Beauty of democracy: Tharoor congratulates BJP on civic body poll win in his constituency
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday, while lauding the win of the UDF in Kerala local bodies elections, also congratulated the BJP for its historic performance in his Thiruvananthapuram constituency, calling it the "beauty of democracy".
In a post on X, he said the people's verdict must be respected, whether for the UDF overall or for the BJP in his constituency.
"What a day of amazing results in the Kerala local self-government elections! The mandate is clear, and the democratic spirit of the state shines through.
"A huge congratulations to @UDFKerala for a truly impressive win across various local bodies! This is a massive endorsement and a powerful signal ahead of the state legislative elections. Hard work, a strong message and anti-incumbency have all clearly paid off to achieve a much better result than in 2020," Tharoor said.
He said he also acknowledges the historic performance of the BJP in Thiruvananthapuram, and "offer humble congratulations on their significant victory in the city corporation - a strong showing that marks a notable shift in the capital's political landscape."
Tharoor said he campaigned for a change from 45 years of the LDF "misrule", but the voters have ultimately rewarded another party that also sought a clear change in governance.
"That is the beauty of democracy. The people's verdict must be respected, whether for the UDF overall or for the BJP in my constituency.
"We will continue to work for the betterment of Kerala, advocating for the people's needs and upholding the principles of good governance. Onwards and upwards!" Tharoor, who is the MP from Thiruvananthapuram, said.
The lotus bloomed in the state capital as the BJP-led NDA achieved a resounding win in the polls for the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, snatching it from the CPI(M)-led LDF and marking an end to 45 years of continuous Left rule in the local body.
The win in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation will act as a boost for the BJP in the 2026 Assembly polls, especially in the state capital.
Of the 101 wards in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the BJP won 50, LDF 29, UDF 19 and two wards were won by independent candidates.
The BJP is one seat short of a decisive majority in the corporation.
Besides this, the NDA retained the Palakkad municipality after a close battle with the Congress-led UDF and wrested the Thrippunithura Municipality from the grand old party.
In Thrissur, from where Suresh Gopi won in the Lok Sabha polls last year, the BJP won 18 out of the 46 wards in Kodungallur Municipality, eight in Thrissur Corporation, two each in Guruvayoor and Vadakkancherry municipalities, seven in Kunnamkulam Municipality, six in Irinjalakuda Municipality and one in Chalakudy Municipality.
