Posters of ‘missing Union Minister’ trigger row in Bihar

It is mischief by anti-social elements belonging to Opposition parties, say BJP leaders

Posters declaring Union Minister and BJP MP from Nawada in Bihar, Giriraj Singh, as “missing” sprung up on the walls in his constituency on Wednesday. The posters also announced a reward of ₹11,000 to those who would provide information about him.

“Union Minister and MP from Nawada Giriraj Singh has been missing for last several years…the people of Rajauli are desperately searching him…whoever sees him or gets him are kindly requested to inform the people of Rajauli…those who will inform about him will be rewarded with ₹11,000,” said the poster donning a large-size picture of Mr. Singh, who is Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the Narendra Modi Cabinet.

Hindutva stand

Rajauli is a subdivision of Nawada district, the parliamentary constituency of Mr. Singh. Mr. Singh has been often hitting headlines for his hard Hindutva stand and statements. In 2016 too a “missing” poster was pasted for Mr. Singh in Barbigha town of his constituency for non-development of the area. Soon the Minister visited Barbigha and held a meeting with the locals.

Mr. Singh, though, has been visiting his constituency every now and then while holding meetings with the locals, say many in his constituency.

“The poster has been pasted by some anti-social elements belonging to Opposition parties to defame our MP... everyone knows that our MP visits different parts of his constituency every month,” said Ranjit Kumar, local BJP leader in Rajauli. The local BJP workers and leaders have removed the posters. “Only recently our MP had visited several villages in the Meskaur block of Rajauli…people must be aware of such rumour-mongers and mischief makers,” said district BJP president Sashi Bhushan Kumar ‘Bablu’.

Locals said the MP had promised them renovation work on National Highway-31 but it had not been started yet despite several reminders to him.