BJP criticises Shinde for attending music function post blasts

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today faced flak from BJP for attending a Bollywood music function soon after the serial blasts in Patna, as the party alleged it has become a habit of Union ministers not to give attention to governance.

Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi told reporters in Lucknow that "after serial blasts in Patna it was expected that the Home Minister will go there, but instead he attended a Bollywood programme and even apologised for reaching there late."

In New Delhi, BJP spokesperson Siddarth Nath Singh said when the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack had happened, the then Home Minister was seen frequently changing his clothes before speaking to the media.

"And now when serial blasts took place at Hunkar rally in Patna, Shinde was at the music launch function. It has become a habit of Congress ministers not to give any attention to better governance but give more emphasis on their clothes and music," he said.

Shinde had yesterday attended the music launch of film 'Rajjo' starring Kangana Ranaut in Mumbai, a few hours after serial blasts rocked a rally in Patna which was attended by BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

"It is shocking to find the Home Minister entertaining himself in a music function instead of monitoring the situation after the serial blasts," another BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said.

The Home Minister has not yet said anything about his presence in the music launch function.

In his address at the function, Shinde had said he initially thought that he would not be able to attend the function due to the explosions in Patna.

"You all know what had happened in Patna. I thought that I would not be able to come here. But, from my heart, I wanted to attend the function...," he said.