Punjab minister sparks anger over remark on Moga teen death

Rakhra triggered a storm when he said the "death of the girl is god's will."

He said "we also travel every day and do not know what awaits us" as he referred to car and plane crashes, watering down the molestation attempt that apparently led to the tragedy.

Another Akali Dal lawmaker, Joginder Pal, who is an MLA from Moga, where the incident occurred, said the incident was an accident and whatever compensation is required should be given and the matter settled outside the court.

Meanwhile, the 14-year-old girl's family refused to cremate her till justice was done. The family also refused the state government's offer of Rs 20 lakh  and a job.

Earlier, the father of the teen, who died after being pushed off the bus by a group of men in Punjab after being harassed and molested by them inside the vehicle in Moga, has demanded a case against Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.

The woman and her daughter were pushed off the bus by a group of men in Punjab who started harassing and molesting them inside the vehicle, owned by a company where the chief minister's family has stakes, resulting in the death of the 14-year-old daughter.

Four people have been arrested in the case.

All four accused, the driver, the bus conductor, a cleaner and their friend, have been arrested.

The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party took out protests in Punjab and Delhi and demanded that the bus company be shut down.

Reports earlier said the mother was seriously injured and in hospital while the girl died after they were pushed off the bus. The incident occurred in Moga district of Punjab on Moga-Bhatinda highway, near Moga city.

The injured mother, 38, had said no one helped them as they were thrown off the running bus. She was picked up from road in a sorry state and taken to Civil Hospital, Baghapurana, for treatment but the girl died after she was thrown off the bus.

The woman, her daughter and son were going to a gurdwara when the incident happened on Wednesday. The son was dropped off the bus later.

The bus conductor did not help and instead of protecting them also joined the men, alleged the woman.

Earlier on Thursday evening, the Ministry of Home Affairs has sought a report from Punjab government over the shocking death of the girl.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's family ( his son and deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal) owns 5,000 shares in the company- Orbit Aviation Private Limited Transport Company- that runs the network of private buses.

"Unfortunately it is our bus and a Himalyan blunder has happened. I feel bad about it, and regardless of the vehicle I am sad," Badal had said.

Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu and  Aam Aadmi Party from Sangrur  Bhagwant Mann had said the buses were notorious for their offences and have also been found carrying drugs earlier.

They had blamed the Punjab government for the incident.