Source: Times of India newindianexpress | Image Courtesy: newindianexpress newindianexpress
The Union Minister of Human Resources and Development, Smriti Zubin Irani is again in the news, not because of a fiery speech in Lok Sabha but as an accused in a road accident on Yamuna Expressway near Mathura. The Minister’s cavalcade is alleged of involved in an accident killing a doctor and injuring two on 5th March, Saturday. Also, the victim’s family is alleging her of turning a blind eye towards them and ignored their pleas to take them to the hospital.
Smriti Irani Denied The Allegations
The allegations were strongly denied by the Minister’s office, a man claiming to be an eyewitness and the local police. The allegations by the victims are contradicting to what the Ministry, police and eyewitness is claiming. They collectively points out that neither was the victim hit by a car belonging to Ms. Irani’s convoy nor did she turn a blind eye to the victim.
The HRD Ministry has issued a clarification. “It is clarified that private vehicle Honda City DL 3C BA 5315, which allegedly hit the biker, who later on died has nothing to do with HRD Minister’s cavalcade as being run in section of media. Rather, the minister directed SSP Mathura to arrange an ambulance immediately so that the injured could be given medical treatment at the earliest,” a statement from the Ministry spokesperson claimed.
Irani was returning from Vrindavan after attending a convention organised by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha when the accident took place.
No Help From Anyone, Waited For 7 Hrs For Treatment
Abhishek Nagar, son of Agra-based doctor Ramesh Nagar who was killed after he was hit for the second time by a car in the minister’s convoy, lodged an FIR or police complaint. Dr Nagar’s 15-year-old daughter Sandili was riding pillion along with her 12-year-old cousin, who was severely injured. In the FIR, it is quoted that the medical practitioner’s daughter and nephew had to wait seven hours before getting proper medical help, the Times of India reported.
Abhishek further alleged that “My sister literally pleaded with folded hands to Smriti Irani for help, but she did not stop.”
The 15 year old daughter of the deceased Sandili told that her father was laid bleeding on the road as the convoy overlooked them. She also said that she pleaded for help whom she refused blatantly. She added that her father was trying to get up on his feet but another car from the convoy hit him and it was all over for the family.
“If she wanted, she could have helped us. If she had helped us, my father would have been there with us,” said Sandili. She claimed that Ms Irani walked out of her damaged car, got into another car and drove off.
“The HRD minister’s car hit our bike, which was at slow speed. Our bike fell. I asked for help but they said no. They said you can get help later. If she wanted, she could have helped us. If she had helped us, my father would have been there with us,” said Sandili.
However, the police claimed Ms Irani’s cavalcade reached the spot seven minutes after the mishap, in which a doctor was killed and two others severely injured. “Her convoy crashed into vehicles which were already piled up on the Yamuna Expressway due to that accident,” SSP Rakesh Yadav said.
When Hema Malini Car Killed A Four Yr Old Girl
This is not the first time when an MP or Minister is accused of neglecting the pleas of the common people brutally hit by their vehicles. Actor turned politician, BJP MP Hema Malini was accused of ignoring a family after her Mercedes hit a family in Rajasthan’s Dausa.
In a tug of war between the victim’s allegations and HRD Minister’s defence, the truth seems to be lost. Besides the police and the eye-witness siding with the lawmaker, the pain of the family who lost their lone bread earner can’t be ignored.
The Logical Indian hopes that the truth soon comes out and proper judicial action must be taken against the culprit.
