JD(U) showcause notice to Ministers for martyrs' slur

Taking exception to the remarks made by two Bihar Ministers Bhim Singh and Narendra Singh after the Pakistani attack on Indian soldiers in the Poonch sector of Jammu & Kashmir last Tuesday, the JD(U) has issued showcause notices to them, asking them to explain their positions within seven days.

Perturbed over the criticism his Government is facing over the controversial remarks made by Narendra Singh giving clean chit to the Pakistani Army on the assault on Indian soldiers, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that it is regrettable that the Minister has made such a statement.

He said that the JD(U) MP and spokesperson KC Tyagi had made a call to him, informing that both Ministers had been asked to explain their respective positions in view of the controversy arising from their statements made during the last few days.

JD(U) president Sharad Yadav in the separate notices to both Ministers had asked them to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against them as their statements were against the party’s policy, ethics and norms. He told them that their remarks did not only cause embarrassment to the party but was also detrimental to the reputation of the party.

Bhim Singh had shocked the entire nation when he argued that the youth join the Army and the police forces to get martyred while Narendra Singh did not attribute any fault to the Pakistan Army for the assault on the Indian soldiers in the Poonch sector, calling Pakistan as a younger brother of India and a neighbour.

While Bhim Singh had already apologised, Narendra Singh did it on Sunday by stating that he was sorry for his statement if it had hurt sentiments of somebody.

He told mediapersons in Patna that he was ready to resign from his ministerial post if he was asked to do so by the Chief Minister. He said that he never gave a clean chit to Pakistan as reported in the media but was only expressing his views based on the preliminary suggestions which had pointed fingers to Pakistani terrorists in the Army uniforms attacking the Indian soldiers.

“I was out of Patna for two days and hence was not aware that the Pakistan Army was responsible for the attack on the Indian soldiers,” he stated, adding that he will reply to the showcause notice once it is received.

Demanding a strong action against Pakistan for violation of the ceasefire time and again, the Minister reiterated that he seeks apology if his statements have hurt sentiments of somebody.

He also advised Governments of India, Pakistan, Sri lanka and Bangladesh to chalk out a joint comprehensive programme for eradication of poverty in the Indian sub-continent.

The Minister asked the Centre to formulate a comprehensive policy for rehabilitation of families of soldiers killed in action. He said that the Centre should also provide a compensation of Rs 50 lakh to each bereaved family of a martyred jawan of the armed forces.