Darbhanga: Bihar's Food and Consumer Protection Minister Madan Sahni has courted a controversy when he ignored social-distancing norms while honouring Jyoti Kumari, who cycled 1,200 km from Gurgaon to bring her injured father home in Darbhanga.
A video clip showing the minister exalting the 15-year-old girl in presence of a large number of villagers standing in close proximity in gross violation of the social distancing norms has gone viral on social media.
Sahni is a JD(U) MLA from Gaura Bauram assembly constituency in Darbhanga district.
The opposition has slammed the minister for giving a go-by to the key social distancing requirement against coronavirus and demanded action against him.
The JD(U), however, refused to make any comment other than stating that the minister himself can speak on the issue.
Repeated attempts to reach the minister for his comments did not fructify.
Sahni had on Monday gone to meet and honour Jyoti Kumari at her native village Sirhulli under Singhwara block of the district where the minister gave clothes and an envelop containing Rs 5,000 as gift, besides revering both the girl and her father - Mohan Paswan - by offering them shawl and garlands.
While Sahni was honouring them, he was surrounded by a crowd.
Though the Darbhanga district administration officials are tight-lipped over the issue, the opposition RJD and Congress lapped it up and demanded action against the minister for violating social-distancing norm which the state government has been asking people to follow vigorously as protection against the virus.
Demanding action against Sahni, senior Bihar Congress leader and MLC Prem Chandra Mishra said, "The minister violated the norms of social-distancing framed and vigorously advocated by the state government. Action has been taken against several persons for violating the norm. Following the same rule, action must be initiated against the minister.