Khattar told reporters after meeting Shekhawat's family that he had apologised to them for not coming earlier but this was disputed with the naval officer's father-in-law Shrichand Chhoker stating that no regret was forthcoming from the CM.
27-year-old Shekhawat died in a Dornier crash off the Goa coast on March 24 while on an official mission.
The Chief Minister said, "I was supposed to come yesterday but I had some important work in Chandigarh. I apologised to the family and told them that I will visit immediately and I have done so today".
On Chhoker's remarks that an official at the CM's residence had spoken rudely to him when he enquired about the programme, Khattar said, "It is not like that. I know my people. Nobody has spoken like that".
Congress and Samajwadi Party lashed out at Khattar, accusing him of not respecting the sentiments of the naval officer's family by failing to meet them twice.
"It is completely insensitive...The manner in which the Haryana CM has treated this family is possibly the most telling testyimony of not only insensitivity byt adding insult to injury, an injury in this case which is irreparable because this officer will never come back."
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