Hurt by Minister’s remarks, says kin of Bihar martyr

A Bihar Minister has stirred up a controversy saying his presence at martyr Mujahid Khan’s last rites wouldn’t have made him alive with Khan’s family expressing “hurt over the insulting remark”.

A resident of Bihar’s Bhojpur district, Khan (25) lost his life fighting militants in J&K on Monday.

The absence of any central or state government minister at his wreath-laying ceremony had already irked the locals and Khan’s family members, who had refused the Rs five lakh ex-gratia announced by the Bihar government.

However, a day after the funeral, Vinod Singh, Bihar Mines Minister who is in charge of Bhojpur district, visited Khan’s native village Piro to meet his family members. When asked about his absence, he said he was in Katihar district, some 600 kms away from Bhojpur.

“What good would have it done had I gone on the funeral day only? Would I have made him alive by visiting that day?” Singh said and added that he saluted the martyr with his whole heart.