Nitish Kumar apologizes for Minister Bhim Singh’s remarks on Army

Bihar Rural Works Minister Bhim Singh has apologized for his inappropriate remarks towards Indian Army and Police.

He was quoted saying, “I am sorry not once but 100 times for the comments. My comment was twisted, but since the remark has hurt the feeling of the people I apologise for the comments.”.

Dr. Bhim Singh is the Cabinet Minister with the portfolio of Rural Works Department. He joined JDU  after switching over from RJD before 2010 Assembly Elections.

Earlier he said “Sena aur police me log marne hi jate hain (People join the army and the police force only to die),” he told media in Patna, when asked about the absence of state ministers at the airport to receive to coffins carrying the bodies of four martyred soldiers from Bihar.

Did your father and mother go (to receive the soldiers’ bodies),” he added, while posing a counter question to a reporter. “You had gone there as part of your duty for which you are paid”.

His Statement created a storm in the media as well as Social Media. The opposition parties demanded his immediate sacking. The furore went so extreme that CM Nitish Kumar had to intervene and asked him to apologize.

Nitish Kumar also apologized on his behalf, “I regret what my colleague has said. I apologise and express regret over the remark. We salute the sacrifice made by the martyrs,” said Kumar while talking to media.

As soon as I heard his comment, I called him up. He said that he made a mistake. It is very sad that my cabinet minister gave such a comment,” said Kumar.

“We have to respect our martyrs. The whole country is indebted to the soldiers and to give respect to the martyrs is our duty. Nitish Kumar said he would “definitely” have been present there had he been in the city.

Kumar said his government was pained by the death of the four soldiers and had promptly announced compensation of Rs 10 each for their next of kin.

“My government will consider additional compensation … for the (martyred soldiers’) families, apart from whatever the Centre does for them,” he said.

There was no minister at the Patna airport last night to receive the bodies of the soldiers. The bodies of the soldiers were brought to Patna by special plane last night.

The Bihar chief secretary and senior civil service and police officials were, however, present at the airport to receive the bodies and pay floral tributes.

“JD(U) ministers Renu Kushwaha, Shyam Rajak and Awadesh Singh Kushwaha had today visited the slain soldiers’ villages to be present for the last rites,” Nitish Kumar further added.

The mortal remains of Sepoy Vijay Kumar Rai, Lance Naik Shambhu Saran Singh and Premnath Singh and Sepoy Raghunandan Prasad from 21 Bihar regiment, who were among five soldiers killed along LoC, were today consigned to flames at their native villages of with full state honours.

Hundreds of people gathered at the cremation grounds to pay their homage to the brave soldiers who were martyred in the Poonch sector on Tuesday.