Uttar Pradesh minister Yogendra Upadhyay is facing backlash from the opposition after insisting on taking pictures with the grieving mother of an Army captain who was killed in a encounter in Rajouri.
A video of his visit shows him pushing a cheque towards the mother of Captain Shubham Gupta even after she refused to take it.
The Congress called the minister 'vulture', while Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi called him 'shameless' and 'insensitive'.
'The mother is pleading while inconsolable yet the minister continues with his photo op. What shamelessness is this? Won’t even allow the martyr family to grieve in peace minus the cameras. Heartless,' she tweeted.
"The B in BJP should stand for Besharm and P for Publicity, 'Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chadha posted.
Also watch: 'Stop this exhibition': Army officer's grieving mother as UP minister indulges in photo-op
"Captain Shubham Gupta made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty during an encounter in the Rajouri sector. His mother is grieving and eagerly awaiting her son's mortal remains. In the midst of her inconsolable sorrow, UP government’s BJP Minister Yogendra Upadhyay shamelessly persists on having a photograph taken for his PR - this, despite the mother's plea to refrain from turning her grief into a spectacle. Shame," he added.