A day after BJP MLA Akash Vijayvargiya was released on bail, his father and the party national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Monday, 1 July, said “it wasn't a big issue but it was made huge”.
The Bhopal's Special Court on Saturday, 29 June, granted Akash Vijayvargiya release from jail. Akash was arrested for assaulting a municipal corporation official with a cricket bat on Wednesday, 26 June.
Calling the feud “unfortunate” the BJP general secretary, in an interview to ANI, said “I think there was mishandling from both the sides. Kachhe khiladi hain – Akash ji bhi aur nagar nigam commissioner (both Akash and the Nagar Nigam commissioner are inexperienced players). It wasn't a big issue but it was made huge.”
‘Officials Should Not Be Arrogant’
Although Kailash Vijayvargiya held his son responsible for the incident, he refused to put the entire blame on him and said “officers should not be arrogant”.
“I think officers should not be arrogant, they should talk to people’s representatives. I saw a lack of it and to ensure that it doesn’t happen again, both of them should be made to understand.”Kailash Vijayvargiya, BJP General Secretary
The BJP MLA had accused municipal officials of ignoring public representatives on legitimate issues related to common people.
Talking on the feud that broke out between his son and the municipal officials, Vijayvargiya said “I was once a Councillor, Mayor & Minister of the dept, we don't demolish any residential building during rains. I don't know if an order for the same was issued by the government, if it wasn't, it's a fault on their part.”
He further added “if a building is being demolished anyway, then arrangements are made for the residents to live in a 'dharamshala'. There was mishandling from Nagar Nigam. Women staff and women police should have been there. It was immature. This should not happen again.”
WHAT HAPPENED
Akash, now out on bail, was arrested after he thrashed a municipal cooperation official with a cricket bat. After the video of the assault went viral on social media, police filed an FIR against Akash and 10 others.
According to the eye-witnesses, the locals were protesting against razing of a house when Akash, who was a part of the protest, warned the civic body staff of consequences if they do not leave the spot.
“You should leave within five minutes or else whatever happens after that will be your responsibility,” Vijayvargiya told the officers.
Amid heated exchange, the BJP MLA is said to have brought out a cricket bat and assault an officer who was talking over his mobile phone. The MLA's supporters also attacked the officer and abused him while police personnel tried to contain the situation at hand.
Soon after the incident, Indore Municipal Corporation employees held a demonstration by stopping their work.
Akash claimed some civic officials were razing even those houses which are in a good condition, by declaring them dilapidated.
CASE SO FAR
The BJP MLA has already made headlines with his statements after being released on bail, saying that he does not regret the incident but would try to follow Mahatma Gandhi's path of non-violence while raising public issues in future.
In another interview to ANI, he said he hopes that he “doesn’t get the chance to bat again”.
“In such a situation when a woman was being dragged in front of the police, I couldn’t think of doing anything else, I’m not embarrassed at what I did. But I pray to god ki vo dobara ballebazi karne ka avsar na de. (I pray to God that I don’t get a chance to bat again).”Akash Vijayvargiya
His supporters greeted him with garlands and sweets, triggering a verbal duel between the Congress and the BJP, with the former accusing the latter of "favouring hooliganism" while the saffron party said it was a natural reaction from youngsters, PTI reported.
Vijayvargiya was welcomed by his supporters when he reached the BJP city office from the District Jail. The MLA got a similar reception later from relatives and friends when he reached his Nandanagar residence.
Meanwhile, the women whose house was to be razed down, said it was the result of “misbehaviour” by civic officials.
In a press conference, Sapna Shrivansh (40) and two other women from the family which lives in the house, held a press conference on Thursday, 27 June, and supported the MLA.
The demolition team entered the house forcibly and “misbehaved” with the women of the family, she alleged.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
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