Sakshi Raj sings at deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi’s janata durbar in Patna on Tuesday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Aug. 21: If a minister forgets his promise, come to the minister.

As Sakshi Raj did today.

Bhojpuri songs on her lips, the 12-year-old girl came all the way from Ara to meet deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi to claim her promised laptop.

Losing patience after eight months, the daughter of a farmer studying in Don Bosco Public School, Ara, 50 km west of Patna, mustered enough courage to turn up at Modi’s weekly janata durbar today to simply “remind” him of the promise. Earlier, she was denied five times to meet the deputy chief minister. But Tuesday was different.

As soon as she went to Modi’s table, she introduced herself and said, “Sir, you have promised me to gift a laptop after listening to my songs at a function a few months ago.” Modi said, “Oh, yes, I do remember you, I have promised you to gift a laptop and you will get it.” He called one of the officers and instructed him to give her a laptop as soon as possible from government funds under a scheme.

Following Modi’s request Sakshi — who had sang in five albums — went on to regale the crowd with her melodious voice. Not only Bhojpuri numbers, she also chanted the Gayatri Mantra. Sakshi told The Telegraph: “It was a function at the residence of Munni Devi, the MLA from Shahpur assembly seat on November 29, 2011, where Modiji was the chief guest. That day, I sang many popular songs. Impressed at my singing talent, Modiji promised me that he would gift me a laptop but it’s been more than eight months that I have not received the gift.”

The Class VII student added: “I was very excited when Modiji promised to gift me a laptop. I shared the good news with my friends who were also excited to see it. Many times, I asked my father what happened with the promise of the deputy chief minister. My father was also in a hapless situation to answer my query.”

Her father Vishwanath Prasad, who brought Sakshi to the janata durbar, said: “I have visited Modiji’s residence five times but the staff used to tell me that he is not available. After failing to meet him at his residence, I decided to meet him at his janata durbar, which maybe a proper place to remind him of the gift. I told my daughter that this is place where he will certainly say something as far keeping the promise is concerned.” Modi said: “Sakshi is a very talented girl and a good singer. She got every potential to go ahead in the field of singing and that’s the reason she has already lent her voice for five albums.”