Amid the political slugfest over the suicide of ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar on Thursday refused to call Grewal a martyr saying that those who commit suicide cannot be called so.
The Chief Minister while talking to the mediapersons at Panchkula said that ‘shaheed’ are those who laid their lives at the border.
A true soldier cannot end his life and Grewal's suicide should be probed, said the Chief Minister.
Haryana senior Minister Anil Vij too echoed Chief Minister’s comments. Talking to the mediapersons, Vij said that those who commit suicide should not be called martyrs.
The Minister also attacked Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by comparing them to mosquitoes that flock into the house as soon as the light goes away.
He said that the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are creating a furore over the matter to fulfil their political goals.
The Minister also came down heavily on Arvind Kejriwal who had declared an Rs one crore compensation for Grewal's family saying why didn't the AAP leader do the same for Uri martyrs.
The family members of Grewal and the village panchayat have demanded the status of martyr for him.
Both Congress and AAP have been criticised since the death of Grewal for politicising the issue.
Congress seeks apology for Grewal's mental state being questioned
The Congress on Thursday demanded an apology from the Narendra Modi-led Central Government for questioning the mental state of the ex-serviceman who allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala who attended the cremation of ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal, while talking to the mediapersons said, “The Modi government should apologise to the Indian Armed Forces and to the family members of Grewal for questioning his mental state.”
Union Minister VK Singh had questioned the mental health of the retired soldier who committed suicide demanding OROP. Singh had also called him a Congress worker saying that Grewal was a Congress worker, who fought Sarpanch election on Congress ticket.
Attacking the government for having accused the Congress of indulging in politics over the death of the ex-serviceman, Surjewala said, “The party is ready to do politics to protect Grewal's family and for the respect of our armed forces.”
Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Surjewala said: “If OROP has been granted, why are soldiers protestingIJ This shows the PM is lying.”
Slamming Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar for not attending the cremation of Grewal, the Congress leader said: "Why the CM didn't attend the cremation of GrewalIJ Why did he send a cheque of Rs 10 lakh from his aidesIJ"
The Congress leader also targeted the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for not attending the cremation.