Uttar Pradesh: Elderly man stands up after posing in wheelchair with BJP MLA, video goes viral
Lucknow: A video featuring Lambhua BJP MLA Sitaram Verma has gone viral on social media, triggering controversy after a man seen posing in a wheelchair during a public program was later seen standing up and walking away, reported Aaj Tak.
The viral clip shows a healthy man being seated in a folding wheelchair while photographs and videos are taken in the presence of the MLA. Soon after the photo-op, the wheelchair is handed over to another person. As the video spread widely on social media, questions were raised over the apparent staging of the event.
Following the online backlash, MLA Sitaram Verma issued a clarification through a video statement.
As per his explanation, the wheelchair was intended for a differently abled person who could not attend the programme due to illness. The wheelchair was therefore handed over to the beneficiary’s father. However, according to reports, the clarification did not explain why a person who appeared healthy was seated in a wheelchair during the photo and video documentation.
The incident reportedly took place at the Lambhua Block premises during an assistive devices distribution programme organised for persons with disabilities on Saturday. Sources said the MLA arrived at the venue after most of the assistive devices had already been distributed. Towards the end of the programme, in the MLA’s presence, a man was reportedly made to sit in a wheelchair for documentation purposes, which later became the focus of the controversy.
According to the MLA, the wheelchair was meant for Sandeep Kumar, a differently-abled resident of Bankepur village, who was unable to attend the program due to illness. As a result, the wheelchair was handed over to his father, Ramdhani, and photographs and videos were taken at the venue.
Taking cognisance of the viral video, the district administration also issued a clarification through the Information Department’s official WhatsApp group. District Backward Classes Welfare Officer Mudit Srivastava stated that the wheelchair shown in the video had been given to Ramdhani, as the actual beneficiary could not be present at the event.
सुल्तानपुर में बीजेपी विधायक सीताराम ने दिव्यांग को फोल्डिंग व्हील चेयर प्रदान की. व्हील चेयर पर बैठते ही लाभार्थी ठीक होकर चमत्कारिक रूप से दोनों पैरों पर खड़ा हो गया.. pic.twitter.com/EnJ9Ab3VIy
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4 workers die after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad
Dhanbad (Jharkhand) (PTI): At least four workers died after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district on Saturday, a police official said.
The incident took place at Moonidih coal washery in the command area of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL).
"Bodies of all four workers were dug out of debris during a rescue operation," Putki police station in-charge Waqar Hussain told PTI.
The incident took place when coal slurry was being loaded into trucks by workers, during which a large chunk of slurry fell and trapped several workers underneath, officials said.
The deceased have been identified as Manik Bauri, Dinesh Bauri, Deepak Bauri, and Hemlal Gope.
Meanwhile, the family members of the deceased and local villagers placed the bodies in front of the washery gate and began a protest.
They demanded compensation, jobs for dependents and action against those responsible for the incident.
Police and administration officials are trying to pacify the protesters, an official said.
