UP minister faces backlash for insensitive photo-op with greiving family of Captain Shubham Gupta

A video capturing Uttar Pradesh minister Yogendra Upadhyay posing with a cheque for the family of Captain Shubham Gupta, who laid down his life in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri, has stirred controversy. The incident, which occurred in Agra, led to accusations of political opportunism and insensitivity as the officer's mother pleaded against the "exhibition" of her grief. 

The video, which went viral on Friday, shows Minister Yogendra Upadhyay attempting to hand over a cheque to Captain Shubham Gupta's grieving mother. In the video, the mother is heard saying, "Pradarshan mat lagao" (Stop this exhibition), expressing her discomfort with the minister's gesture. However, despite her resistance, the minister persists, holding the cheque for the cameras. 

Opposition berates 'heartless’ gesture  

The video prompted strong reactions from opposition parties, with the Congress condemning it as a "photo-op" and describing those involved as "vultures." Uddhav Thackeray's party MP Priyanka Chaturvedi criticized the incident as "heartless," emphasizing the mother's plea for privacy in her moment of grief. AAP MP Raghav Chadha took a dig at the BJP, stating, “The B in BJP should stand for Besharm (shameless) and P for Publicity.”

The Congress, in a tweet, used the term "vultures" to describe the situation, implying that the incident was being exploited for political gain. Uddhav Thackeray's party MP Priyanka Chaturvedi expressed her dismay, highlighting the mother's plea for privacy during such a difficult time. AAP MP Raghav Chadha criticized the BJP's actions, accusing them of shamelessly seeking publicity even in the face of a grieving mother's request for restraint. 

Captain Shubham Gupta: A Hero Remembered 

Captain Shubham Gupta, the son of a government lawyer, made the ultimate sacrifice during an encounter in the Rajouri sector. He joined the Army in 2015 and was commissioned into the ninth battalion of the Army's elite Parachute regiment, known as the 9 Para SF (Special Forces), in 2018. Alongside Captain Gupta, four other army personnel—Captain MV Pranjal, Havildar Abdul Majid, Lance Naik Sanjay Bisht, and Paratrooper Sachin Laur—were also killed in action during the two-day encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri. 

As the controversy surrounding the minister's gesture continues to unfold, it raises questions about the appropriateness of political actions in the midst of personal grief. The incident has ignited a debate on the fine line between public duty and private mourning, with opposition parties condemning what they perceive as a lack of empathy and sensitivity in handling the situation.