Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien on 3 November visited the family of ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal who committed suicide on Wednesday in Haryana.
Coming out in support of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, the TMC leader told the media that if politicians were keen on meeting Grewal's family, they should have been allowed to do so.
The response came a day after Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi were detained by the Delhi Police and were stopped from meeting the kin of the deceased.
He also condemned Delhi Police's move of detaining few members of the victims family, including Ram Kishan's son.
"Double grieving happening here - one for their loss, other for what happened yesterday. Family shouldn't have been manhandled," Derek O'Brien told the media.
Rahul Gandhi took to twitter to share a video and claimed Ram Kishan's family was manhandled by Delhi Police.
Modiji's India:this is how families of our soldiers & our martyrs are being treated! pic.twitter.com/m4Rfbewpq2
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) November 2, 2016
However, the Trinamool Congress leader drew flak for allegedly politicising the entire episode with a number of people questioning him for not being present when the Malda riots took place. Some of the Tweets also suggested that Derek O'Brien has been blocking people on Twitter for questioning the Malda incident.
Where was TMC Leader Derek O'Brien during Malda Riots????
— The Thinker (@Nomadic_Soul_) November 3, 2016
Care to answer @quizderek ???
The way TMC Leader Derek O'Brien is blocking twitteratis on asking about skipping Malda soon he'll have only one follower that would b Derek
— Vivek Sharma (@TheVivekSharma) November 3, 2016
Political Theatre Drama Continues:TMC Leader Derek O'Brien Reaches Ram Kishan Garehwal's Residence In #Bhiwani,Haryana
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) November 3, 2016
Was Malda On Jupiter? pic.twitter.com/T7Io6zJY3i
TMC Leader Derek O'Brien said this is not the time to make a political statement & next second he made a political statement. #Bhivani
— Yamraj (@YamaSpeaks) November 3, 2016
Why TMC Leader Derek O'Brien is interested in suicide of army veteran? Where was he during Malda? These politicians are pests & opportunists
— Vivek Sharma (@TheVivekSharma) November 3, 2016
TMC Leader Derek O'brien reaches the house of ex martyr to play vulture politics where several districts of Bengal burning in riots no word.
— Suhana (@Suhana41) November 3, 2016
Waiting 4 the tweet from TMC Leader Derek O'Brien during Malda Riots???? @quizderek
— शुभेन्दु शेखर (@iShubhendu) November 3, 2016
Meanwhile, Kejriwal has said that he is now going to the village to meet Ram Kishan Grewal's family.
70-year-old ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal committed suicide by consuming poison at a park in New Delhi over the delay of implementation of the OROP scheme.