Congress says Rajeev Chandrashekhar made false claims on help to Hanamanthappa's family, releases letters

New Delhi: Who helped the poor family members of Siachen avalanche survivor Lance Naik Hanamanthappa, who died on Thursday, to reach Delhi to be with him?

All available records prove that it was Karnataka government and the local Congress leaders in his native place Dharwad district. But, an Independent Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka and a businessman Rajeev Chandrashekhar had claimed that he was arranging their tickets, accommodations etc. He had even tweeted twice on Tuesday, the day his family reached Delhi from Karnataka that everything is being taken care of by him.

TV news channels, social media platforms and websites immediately flashed the news saying that Rajeev Chandrashekhar was helping them. His office even informed the media in Delhi that he would be personally receiving them at the IGI airport in the evening.

Minutes after that Brijesh Kalappa, an All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesperson, Supreme Court advocate and legal advisor to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tweeted and posted on his Facebook page that it was state government and local Congress leaders who are arranging their trip to Delhi and not Rajeev Chandrashekhar.

To ascertain facts, seeking clarification, an IBNLIVE journalist tweeted Brijesh Kalappa's claims tagging Rajeev Chandrashekhar. Quoting the same tweet, Brijesh Kalappa demanded that Rajeev Chandrashekhar should clarify. Even after three days there has been no reply or clarification from him.

On Wednesday, Siddaramaiah himself posted on his Facebook page that his government made all arrangements. He wrote, "I spoke to media persons today in Bengaluru about our initiatives with respect to our brave soldier Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad. Yesterday it was our MLA CS Shivalli who had made all arrangements for the flight of the six family members of the soldier. They had already left the place before I reached Hubballi. I could only talk to them over phone. Today I am in touch with the commissioner of Karnataka Bhavan at Delhi and making sure every arrangement is being made and facilities given to the kin of the struggling soldier. I learned to know that the best treatment is being given by the doctors at Military RR Hospital Delhi. I'm hoping that our soldier Hanamanthappa Koppad will recover soon by the medication and by the prayers and blessings of the whole nation".

Alleging that Rajeev Chandrashekhar is making false claims that he was the one who helped, Brijesh Kalappa posted a scathing statement on his Facebook page attaching the proofs. He wrote, "Tickets for 6 persons from Goa to New Delhi which were first booked for the 4.30 pm flight, but later changed to 7 pm, were booked by C S Shivalli, INC MLA, Kundgol. He is one of the Parliamentary Secretaries. He paid Rs 43,052/- for the tickets.

I have seen the tweets of Shri Rajeev Chandrashekar, MP who has claimed that he bore the expenses towards the travel and stay of these persons. His claim is definitely NOT TRUE.

Similarly he has claimed that he had made arrangements for their stay. That claim is also belied by the correspondence provided below.

"Just one question- why does a zillionaire Rajya Sabha MP have to utter falsehood on an issue like this?!!"

When Hanamanthappa's family arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday evening, Rajeev Chandrashekhar was present there. However Karnataka Resident Commissioner in New Delhi Atul Kumar Tiwari clarified that the state government had sent its protocol officers with government vehicles to receive and escort them to Army guest house much before that. In a reply to Rajeev Chandrashekar's letter requesting Tiwari to reserve three rooms at Karnataka Bhawan, he politely, but firmly said that the state government is taking care of everything and it was the duty and privilege of the state to arrange everything for a brave soldiers family. Tiwari also told the media that he had been personally instructed by the Chief Minister to keep a watch on the health condition of Hanamanthappa and stay in touch with his family members. Karnataka Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav has also sent a letter instructing Tiwari to treat Hanamanthappa's family members as state guests and not to charge for anything.

Rajeev Chandrashekhar's office in Bengaluru told the media that they had booked tickets on an Air Asia flight, but had to cancel them after Hanamanthappa's family left by some other flight.

Twitterati is now accusing Rajeev Chandrashekhar of making false claims when a brave soldier has died. "Since he calls himself a guardian angel of the Indian Army, he should clarify with proofs. We did not expect this from him" said Brijesh Kalappa.