Chhattisgarh ministers Brijmohan Agrawal and Ajay Chandrakar talking to each other and laughing
Highlights
- Ministers Brijmohan Agrawal, Ajay Chandrakar seen laughing
- Chief Minister Raman Singh was also present at the meet
- BJP chief Dharamlal Kaushik seen trying to ask them not to laugh
Two ministers in Chhattisgarh are seen laughing heartily at a condolence meeting for former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Thursday, in a video that has become a rage on social media.
The video shows state Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal and Health Minister Ajay Chandrakar chuckling while apparently enjoying a joke as they sat on the stage.
The meeting was held on Wednesday after the ashes of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the BJP's most-revered patriarch, were brought for homage and immersion in major rivers, as part of a nationwide programme.
The video shows Mr Chandrakar slapping the table in front of him as he guffaws.
State BJP chief Dharamlal Kaushik is seen grabbing Mr Chandrakar's hand, apparently nudging them to stop laughing.
Chief Minister Raman Singh was also present at the meeting.
The opposition Congress targeted the two ministers after the video surfaced on social media.
"The top BJP leadership had ignored Atal ji when he was alive. Now this act of senior BJP ministers has clearly shown how much respect they have for their veteran leader," said state Congress leader Shailesh Nitin Trivedi, calling it a "highly objectionable" act.
"If BJP leaders cannot respect Atal ji, then they should not at least disrespect him. The BJP and Raman Singh's (expression of) love and respect for Atal ji after his death is nothing but just a show and drama," he said.
Mr Kaushik, the state BJP chief, or other senior leaders of the party in the state could not be contacted for comments.