Not a single minister from Nitish Kumar's Bihar government turned up at the Patna airport on Tuesday evening, when the bodies of six jawans martyred in Chattisgarh's Sukma district were brought to be sent to their respective homes.

CM Nitish and his deputy, Tejaswi Yadav, didn't go to the airport and pay tribute to the jawans, despite being just a 100 meters away.

They were attending the 8th Foundation Day function of the Bihar State Road Development Corporation.

As many as 25 brave hearts from the 74th battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were martyred in Chhattisgarh's Sukma on Monday after they were ambushed by Maoists. The bodies of the six jawans from Bihar were flown out of Raipur on Tuesday afternoon, and reached Patna in the evening.

Although the CM and his deputy didn't make it, Patna DM Sanjay Agarwal, SSP Manu Maharajm and JD(U) leader Shyam Rajak were in attendance to pay tribute to the jawans.

Union Minister and BJP MP from Patliputra Ram Kripal Yadav, and many other local BJP leaders and legislators were present at the airport on the occasion.

RAM KRIPAL YADAV SLAMS NITISH GOVERNMENT

Speaking to journalists, Yadav called the Bihar government's move of not sending a single minister to the airport, insensitive and unfortunate.

"I have heard that Nitish Kumar is attending a government function just few meters away from airport. This is extremely unfortunate", he said.

The Bihar government had earlier announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the martyrs on Tuesday morning and burial with full state honours for the fallen jawans.

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