When the state government is trying to salvage its image a district magistrate has now courted controversy when he questioned Government largesse to the family members of the martyrs.
The official in question is Rajeev Rautela, DM of Aligarh who lashed out at the families of martyrs saying their demands for compensation are unseen and unheard in any other country. “India is a land of mourners,’’ the DM said. ‘’Around 5,000 Americans have been killed in Afghanistan, but you will never hear their families asking for compensation. They are proud of their son’s sacrifice for the nation,” he said. “It is the duty of soldiers to lay down their lives on the war front. (In India) the government pays the soldier because he is fighting on the border.
When he dies fighting enemy family members say their would not perform last rites they get petrol pump or Rs 50 lakh compensation. How will this country progressIJ,’’ he questioned. Rautela’s comments to a group of journalists have set off a flurry of comments on the social media. However, sources close to him, say he has been quoted out of context. State BJP spokesperson Vijay Bahadur Pathak has demanded the DM’s expulsion over his alleged comments. ‘’A person sitting in a top post on the district should not be so irresponsible. The Uttar Pradesh government should immediately remove him and seek explanation after his suspension,’’ he said. ‘’Officials in this government are out of control and they are doing whatever they like. The violence in Muzaffarnagar is a glaring example of the laxity of the officials,’’ he added.