(Note: It has been reported by The Quint that the photo in question is not a selfie, but was in fact taken by somebody else. This story was updated on 22 February at 2.50 pm to reflect this change.)
Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam found himself in the eye of fire on Saturday, 16 February, after posting a photograph of himself on Facebook, with the coffin of a soldier who had been killed in the Pulwama terror attack, in the background.
According to a local news report, the minister had gone to CRPF Jawan Vasanth Kumar’s house to pay his respects. Along with the photo he had posted on Facebook, Alphons had written a caption that read:
The final rites of our brave jawan VV Vasanth Kumar, who lost his life in Pulwama terror attack, got over at his residence. It is because of the sacrifices of brave jawans like Vasanth Kumar that we are are safe today.
However, after facing immense flak on social media for the photograph, he deleted it within half an hour. The photo had been posted around 9:30 pm on Saturday. One of the commenters wrote: “Even though you are a BJP minister, there is nothing wrong in showing some sensitivity.”
CRPF Jawan Vasanth Kumar was killed in the Pulwama terror attack of 14 February, when a suicide bomber drove a vehicle laden with explosives into a bus carrying CRPF personnel. That bus was one of a convoy of 78 buses that was carrying more than 2,500 CRPF personnel. 40 jawans were killed in the terror attack.
Local news reports mentioned that a huge crowd had gathered at Vasanth Kumar’s house in Thrikkaipetta village in Wayanad district of Kerala, to pay their last respects. The final rites took place in the presence of ministers and top political leaders.
Vasanth Kumar was laid to rest with full state honours in the Lakkidi community crematorium.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)