VARANASI/LUCKNOW: A noble deed by Union defence minister Rajnath Singh 20 years ago during his tenure as UP Chief Minister paid dividends of joy to him on Saturday.
Singh reached Ghazipur on Saturday to attend the wedding of Brijendra, a doctor, whom he had “adopted” two decades ago after the child lost both his parents.
Recently, when he came to know about Brijendra’s wedding, he decided to visit Ghazipur and shower his blessings on the couple.
Singh also took to social media to share his feelings. “When I was the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, I took up the responsibility of the education of a child. The same child is now Dr Brijendra. I attended his wedding ceremony at his home today and offered him my best wishes. It is definitely a moment of great satisfaction and joy for me,” the defence minister wrote from his official twitter handle.
Talking to reporters, Singh said he was experiencing a unique sense of pride for being able to participate in the momentous occasion. “I am delighted to hear that Brijendra is serving the country by joining government health services,” he said.
Singh said he had taken up the responsibility of two children during his tenure as UP Chief Minister and Brijendra was one of them.
Sharing his experience, Brijendra said Singh’s arrival came as a pleasant surprise to him. Recollecting his association with the defence minister, Brijendra said, “He always used to ask me to reach out to him whenever I required any support.”
According to local residents, most people, including the family of the bride, Preetika, were unaware about Brijendra’s relationship with the defence minister.
The bride, Kritika is a post graduate in English from Calcutta University. Her father, Prem Chand, is an employee at a rifle factory under the ministry of defence, in West Bengal.