Minister abandons mishap victims

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh agriculture minister Gouri Shankar Bisen was once again in news, this time too for wrong reasons.

Mr Bisen has attracted criticism from all quarters, including his party leaders, for being “insensitive” towards victims of a road accident caused by his convoy near Amarpatan under Satna district in the state on Wednesday.

Delayed reports reaching here on Thursday said Mr Bisen’s convoy had hit a bike carrying three people while allegedly trying to overtake it near Amarpatan.

But, the minister sped away in his vehicle even as the injured victims, Mr Choudhury, his wife and their ten-year-old daughter, lay on the road writhing in pain and crying for help.

Later, passersby came to their help by calling the police to admit them in the hospital. The minister was in the district to attend a series of government programmes.

Later, the minister attended a public meeting where he declared adequate  compensation for the victims. He also announced that he would bear all their medical expenses. He had described the mishap as “human lapse”.

Later, the minister visited the victims in the hospital and announced a compensation of Rs 25,000 to Mr Choudhury, who was grievously injured in the accident and Rs 10,000 to the latter’s daughter Ragini, who sustained minor injuries.

Mr Choudhury’s wife had escaped unhurt. “I am shocked at the apathetic attitude of Mr Bisen towards the victims of the accident caused none other than by his convoy. He should have stopped his convoy and arranged medical help for the victims. Instead of coming to their help, he fled the spot, as happened in a hit-and-run cases”, a BJP MLA regretted, unwilling to be quoted.

“It clearly shows insensitivity of the minister,” MP Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedy said. Earlier, Mr Bisen had sparked a controversy when he left the bier carrying body of a victim of fire tragedy in Satna district to give byte to scribes present there.