‘Family of pensioner better off after his death’ - Bibi Jagir Kaur

Senior Akali legislator Bibi Jagir Kaur has sparked off a row after being caught on tape making insensitive remarks about a pensioner who had immolated himself after not receiving his pension of Rs 250 for eight months.

Som Nath had set himself on fire outside the Punjab National Bank’s Dhilwan Branch in Kapurthala district on April 18. Within two days of his death, the Punjab government had released Rs 84 crore for distribution of pension to 1.5 lakh pensioners.

Dhilwan is in Kaur’s constituency Bholath. When a local TV channel approached her for reaction, Kaur said that Som Nath’s family was better off now as instead of the Rs 250 a month, the deputy commissioner has given them compensation of Rs 1 lakh. Kaur went on to suggest that the family must be wishing that another of their members also dies.

Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner denied any compensation had been paid.

“What can the government do? I am saying that it is better for the family that he is dead as he used to get just Rs 250 a month. The deputy commissioner has now given them Rs 1 lakh. The family must be wishing that someone else from them should also die,” Kaur said.

The video has gone viral on Facebook and WhatsApp. In the interview, she also appeared to attack Som Nath. “No one commits suicide without personal problems. I even called up the area (party) president and he told me that he (Som Nath) was a drunkard. No one protested against government after his death; people said he did wrong. I think even his family must be against him. Why blame the government for such incidents.”

Watch the video here: 

On Thursday, Kaur defended her remarks. “I was not aware that Rs 1 lakh was not given to the family. The interviewer told me about it and then I said that it is better for family which got Rs 1 lakh against Rs 250 monthly. I am against suicide and if one commits suicide just for Rs 250, then one is a coward.”

Som Nath’s family members were upset at Kaur for her remarks.