Shinde draws flak for attending music launch after Patna blasts

Earlier, former home minister Shivraj Patil had to resign over changing his clothes thrice while appearing before the media after the Delhi serial blasts in 2008. Citing the case of Patil, the opposition has now demanded Shinde’s resignation for being insensitive towards the situation. 

Shinde attended the music launch of Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut’s upcoming movie Rajjo in Mumbai on Sunday evening. The film has reportedly been directed by Vishwas Patil, who belongs to the minister’s village in Maharashtra. During the 45-minute event at a luxury hotel, Shinde launched the film’s music and also posed for photographs with its lead star Kangana Ranaut.

Taking a jibe at Shinde for attending the music launch BJP leader Kirti Azad on Monday said the former is not able to do anything and is a laughing stock. ‘He (Shinde) is not able to do anything. 

Shinde is a laughing stock, like the Prime Minister, not only in India but across the globe, the kind of statements that he gives,’ Azad said, adding that, ‘And you find him dancing and releasing music cassettes when innocent Indians died on Sunday at the Hunkar rally. I would say, we should not be asking for his resignation because they have to go anyway within 200 days now.’

Just a few hours earlier, at least six people were killed and 83 injured in serial blasts in Patna, which occurred ahead of BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s rally at Gandhi Maidan.

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Atul Anjan also lashed out at Shinde for enjoying the music launch of an upcoming film in Mumbai on a day when Patna was rocked by serial blasts. Anjan also used the occasion to target the ruling Congress party, saying all their leaders are busy in such things rather than devoting their time on issues of national interest. 

‘What has the home minister to do if the people die and there is a mishap in the country? What has even the government to do? Neither Shinde can say anything nor he is able to speak properly and does not even understand things. He has become quite old and it takes him one minute to speak even a word,’ he added.

Shinde, however, defended by saying that ‘he had immediately sent crack investigating teams to the spot and was in regular touch with his officials.’