Rajnath stuck in lift at CRPF event

NEW DELHI: Rajnath Singh's officer on special duty (OSD) B K Singh was not the home minister's first choice for the post. Yet it was he who came to the rescue of the minister when he got stuck in a lift briefly at a CRPF facility on Thursday.

The well-built IPS officer of UP cadre, who was employed with the National Security Guard (NSG) as a DIG before joining the minister's office, pulled the minister out after scaling the lift wall himself.

The former NSG officer was brought to the home ministry after Rajnath Singh's first choice for OSD's post, A K Singh, was turned down by the government.

Rajnath Singh had gone to preside over the "Valour Day" being celebrated by CRPF at its Vasant Kunj facility. The auditorium, where the minister was supposed to address jawans, is on the first floor. Generally dignitaries are taken to the auditorium via ramp leading to it.

CRPF, however, in a last minute change of plans opted for the lift, perhaps to make it easier for the minister. Five people-- including the minister, his OSD, MoS (Home) H P Chaudhary, CRPF DG Prakash Mishra and ITBP DG Krishna Chaudhary-- entered the lift. ITBP DG, a towering and bulky figure himself, had to soon disembark as the lift got overloaded.

However, immediately CRPF jawan entered the lift to help operate it. "This perhaps led to overloading and the lift got stuck midway. When the doors opened, there were still some five feet to go," said a CRPF officer.

It was then that OSD Singh rang the alarm bell, scaled the lift wall and came out himself. He then threw a stool inside the lift and helped others come out—the minister choosing to be evacuated last. "The entire thing didn't last for more than five odd minutes, but did lead to a bit of panic for us," said a CRPF officer.

Thankfully Rajnath Singh made light of the moment and described in detail the entire lift episode while addressing the jawans. He even quipped how the bulky Krishna Chaudhary prevented the lift from moving up.

"We were coming by the lift...it got stuck... you become claustrophobic... we had to climb a stool to get out... It was then that I decided that first the CRPF DG should come out of the lift, then my MoS (Chaudhary)... and then only I will come out after evacuating others... So, why I am saying all this... because one should do his or her work keeping in mind others' well-being and one should work with pious thoughts," he said.

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