UP minister, MLA draw flak for 'insensitivity' while handing over cheque to Army officer's mother
New Delhi/Agra, Nov 24: Opposition parties on Friday alleged that BJP leaders displayed insensitivity in handing over a compensation cheque to the inconsolable mother of Captain Shubham Gupta, who was killed fighting terrorists in J-K, and lashed out at them for using the occasion as a "photo-op".
Before the arrival of the mortal remains of the Army officer at his home, Uttar Pradesh Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay and local MLA GS Dharmesh tried to hand over the cheque of Rs 50 lakh in front of media persons to Gupta's wailing mother who said she did not need it and kept insisting not to drag her in this "pradarshini" (exhibition).
"Mere liye pradarshini mat lagao," she said and cried that she wanted her son back as some of the people around her asked her to hold the cheque.
The Congress and other opposition parties slammed the minister for using the occasion as a "photo-op".
"Giddh" (vulture), said the Congress while sharing the video from its official X handle.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP and deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha Priyanka Chaturvedi used the words "shameless, insensitive" while sharing the video.
"'Pradarshini na lagao', the mother is pleading while inconsolable yet the minister continues with his photo op. What shamelessness is this? Won't even allow the martyr family to grieve in peace minus the cameras. Heartless," she said in another post on X.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha also said, "The B in BJP should stand for Besharm and P for Publicity."
"Captain Shubham Gupta made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty during an encounter in the Rajouri sector. His mother is grieving and eagerly awaiting her son's mortal remains.
"In the midst of her inconsolable sorrow, UP government's BJP Minister Yogendra Upadhyay shamelessly persists on having a photograph taken for his PR - this, despite the mother's plea to refrain from turning her grief into a spectacle. Shame," Chadha said in a post while sharing the video.
Some former top Army officials also expressed unhappiness over the conduct of the leaders.
The B in BJP should stand for Besharm and P for Publicity.
— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) November 24, 2023
Captain Shubham Gupta made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty during an encounter in the Rajouri sector. His mother is grieving and eagerly awaiting her son's mortal remains. In the midst of her inconsolable… pic.twitter.com/IXUX0a3Iu1
निर्लज, बेशर्म, असंवेदनशील। pic.twitter.com/OxzOG956RQ
— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) November 24, 2023
आगरा के कैप्टन शुभम गुप्ता आतंकियों से मुठभेड़ में शहीद हो गए।
— UP Congress (@INCUttarPradesh) November 24, 2023
आज शहीद के परिवार से मिलने बाबा के मंत्री योगेंद्र उपाध्याय 50 लाख का चेक लेकर पहुंचे और शहीद की माँ को देने लगे।
शहीद जवान की माँ बिलखते हुए कहती रहीं, "ये प्रदर्शनी मत लगाओ, भाई!" लेकिन, फोटोबाज़ी के उस्तादों को… pic.twitter.com/oFPk96fvH1
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
BJP will form govt in Bengal with thumping majority: Nabin
Mirzapur (UP) (PTI): BJP president Nitin Nabin on Wednesday voiced confidence that his party will form the government in West Bengal with a "thumping majority".
Polling is underway for 142 constituencies in the second and final phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, covering key districts, including Kolkata, Howrah and North and South 24 Parganas.
The high-stakes contest is being seen as decisive for the ruling TMC's bid for a fourth consecutive term and the BJP's push to form its first government in the state. The first phase held on April 23 recorded a high voter turnout of over 93 per cent, reflecting intense electoral engagement.
Speaking to reporters in Mirzapur, Nabin said, "The BJP will form the government in Bengal. We are winning the elections with a massive majority."
Earlier in the day, the BJP chief visited the Vindhyavasini temple and offered prayers. The rituals were conducted by his priest Acharya Agastya Kumar Dwivedi.
On his first visit to the district after assuming office, Nabin was welcomed by party workers at several places. At the temple, he was received by city MLA Ratnakar Mishra and District Magistrate Pawan Kumar Gangwar, who felicitated him with a traditional 'angvastram'.
After offering prayers for about 10 minutes amid Vedic chants, Nabin held a meeting at a hotel with local MLAs, including Mishra, Majhwan MLA Suchismita Maurya and Madihan MLA Ramashankar Patel.
Patel said Nabin emphasised strengthening the organisation and asked public representatives to focus on serving people in their respective constituencies.
Several party leaders, including district president Lal Bahadur Saroj, district vice-president Gaurav Umar, municipal chairperson Shyam Sundar Kesari, women workers and senior officials, were present on the occasion.
Elaborate security arrangements were put in place by the district administration for the visit, with multiple officers of circle officer rank deployed, officials said.
