BJP MLA posts selfie in front of burning houses of the poor

Posted it only to inform officials that I was at the site’

JAIPUR: A BJP MLA in Rajasthan on Wednesday drew intense flak after he posted a selfie on Facebook taken during a fire incident in which several houses were gutted in his contituency in Bharatpur district.

Bachchu Singh, who represent Bayana assembly seat, later removed the controversial picture taken in front of houses that were engulfed in flames but claimed that he had posted it only to inform officials that he was on the site.

“It was not a selfie,” he insisted, when asked if it was proper for him to have acted in such a way while he was surrounded by victims of the fire incident on Tuesday.

After he was informed about the fire incident in Nagla Moroli Daang area of Bayana town, the MLA had rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.

He assured the victims of all necessary help. Standing in middle of the crowd, the MLA, however, took out his mobile phone for a “selfie”, eyewitnesses said.

Though many present on spot were surprised by the MLA’s action, no one spoke at that time, they said.

The picture immediately drew a lot of flak on social media, and Singh soon deleted the picture that had been taken in front of houses that were still blazing in the background.

“This is not the time to take selfie,” one user said while another added, “It would have been better if you had poured two buckets of water to douse the fire.”

When contacted, he said, “Why would I take a selfie of such an unfortunate incident?”

“It is a matter of perception. I had posted the photo to let administrative officials know that I am on the spot.”

Singh later posted another photo of himself – this time not a selfie but one where he’s seen inspecting the site – on Facebook with a similar message, expressing his concern on the incident and assuring people that he would do all in his power to better the situation.

Further explaining his action, he said, “It is a matter of perception. I had posted the photo to let administrative officials know that I am on the spot. SDM concerned was not picking up my call. Then I called up ADM saying that I am at the spot and I am sending you live photograph so that they reach on time and start acting. It was not a selfie. Why would I take a selfie of such an unfortunate incident?” Singh asked.

With PTI inputs.