In a shameful display of utter insensitivity and lack of basic human etiquettes, a BJD MLA was seen manhandling, and shoving the family member of a martyred soldier during the last rites.
In a video that has now gone viral over social media, Cuttack-Barabati MLA Debashish Samantray was seen pushing, shoving and forcing a man, reportedly the uncle of Pulwama martyr Manoj Behera, to kneel down when the soldier’s last remains were kept for the final rites.
This is how a MLA of @bjd_odisha behaves in public in the time of mourning.People to decide & definitely work speaks.. @narendramodi @dpradhanbjp @AprajitaSarangi @MrsGandhi #PulwamaAttack pic.twitter.com/41KGnXPXgW
— Kasturi Mishra (@mishra_kasturi) February 18, 2019
In the video, Samantray is seen first objecting to the man, who is reportedly the martyr’s uncle, standing beside him just before the last rites were about to begin. In an attempt to make the man kneel beside the martyr’s coffin (and not stand beside the MLA), he is seen pushing and shoving the man so hard that the old man fell down near the soldier’s coffin.
It is evident that the MLA did not want the man standing up with him as he posed for photographs.
As per reports, BJD minister Pratap Jena and Niali MLA Pramod Mallik and Cuttack-Chowdwar MLA Prabhat Biswal were also present when the incident transpired.
The MLA’s arrogant and shameful act has created a lot of reactions over social media.
While the whole country mourning for the martyrs ,see how one of the MLA of ruling party BJD is physically abusing martyr Manoj ji’s Uncle at his funeral. Is this the way to treat their family?@abpnewstv @ZeeNews @aajtak @ndtv @RahulGandhi @narendramodi @IndiaToday @timesofindia pic.twitter.com/rar3jXZcSa
— Sarthak Ray (@Sarthaka_Ray) February 19, 2019
This is an elected MLA of @bjd_odisha from Odisha seen manhandling the dead crpf soldier’s family when he stood up during photo opportunity. Best leader for idiots who keep voting for these scums. @odishatroll @AvedHDas @BJP4Odisha @INCOdisha @AAP4ODISHA @DashNistha pic.twitter.com/BvqYYfVFHx
— kn0wthing- KALIA ପ୍ରେମୀ- ପ୍ରବୀନ ପତ୍ତନାୟକ୍ (@knothing4) February 18, 2019
Two CRPF personnel from Odisha, Parshana Sahu, and Manoj Behera, were martyred in the February 14 Pulwama attack by JeM terrorists that claimed 40 lives. Martyr Manoj Behera was from Ratnapur village in Cuttack and Parshana Sahu was from Jagatsighpur. The martyrs were cremated in their respective villages on Saturday.