Patna, Sep 22: Bihar Industries and Sports Minister and Jamui MLA Shreyasi Singh on Tuesday said her remarks on “moral policing” in connection with the alleged assault and molestation of two teenagers in Jamui were being selectively presented and taken out of context.
Singh faced criticism after a clip from a television interview surfaced in which she said moral policing could be carried out in a more “decent” and “elegant” manner, while making it clear that the alleged mistreatment of the boy and girl was not acceptable.
“It is unfortunate that certain remarks are being selectively presented and taken out of context,” Singh said, adding that the viral clip was part of a longer interview.
She said the questions asked, the sequence of the discussion and her repeated assertion that such incidents would not be tolerated should be considered while understanding her position.
“Moral policing, on one hand, it can be done in a more decent and an elegant fashion, but the way they mishandled, mistreated the boy and the girl together is absolutely not tolerable,” Singh said.
Her remarks drew a sharp response from Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, who shared the interview clip and questioned whether the statement suggested that moral policing should be carried out in a “respectful manner”. He also said Singh should give “tuition” on moral policing.
Singh, however, urged people to view the interview “in its entirety, rather than on the basis of isolated statements”. She said she and Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary were in communication with the district administration and monitoring the situation.
“The priority was, and remains, justice, accountability, and the safety of the people,” Singh said.
The controversy comes after a September 19 incident in Jamui in which a teenage boy and girl returning from coaching classes were allegedly surrounded by a group of men, assaulted and subjected to molestation. Videos of the incident subsequently surfaced on social media, prompting police action.
Police registered a case under relevant provisions of the POCSO Act and other laws and arrested three accused, according to reports. On Tuesday, police said main accused Nandan Yadav and another accused sustained leg injuries in an exchange of fire with police and were admitted to hospital.
Police have continued efforts to apprehend other accused and have also sought removal of videos involving the minors from social media platforms.
The episode also triggered a separate controversy after JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha described the Jamui case as an “isolated” incident and referred to the situation in Bihar before 2005. He later said his remarks had been “distorted and misrepresented” and urged people to consider his complete statement.
