In a bewildering turn of events, local NCP leader Nitu Tejwani tied a rakhi on the hand of the BJP MLA from Naroda, Balram Thawani, who assaulted her in public. Thawani had assaulted Tejwani on Sunday, 2 June, outside his office in Naroda, Ahmedabad. The assault was recorded on video, which went viral on social media.
In the video, Nitu Tejwani was surrounded by a group of men who kicked and slapped her. One of the men, clad in an orange kurta, was identified as Thawani.
The incident resulted in a huge uproar in Gujarat, with the Gujarat BJP working on damage control. The party spokesperson issued a statement claiming that Gujarat BJP President Jitu Vaghani has directed the Naroda MLA Balram Thawani to issue an apology and also asked him to issue an explanation .
Thawani and Tejwani had called for a joint press conference on Monday, 3 June, where Tejwani tied a rakhi on Thawani’s hand, saying that he “didn’t have any bad intentions when he slapped me”.
Tejwani, at the conference, said:
“He (Thawani) said that I am like a sister to him and that he didn’t have any bad intentions when he slapped me. I too now consider him as my brother and we have resolved the matter among us.”Nitu Tejwani, Local NCP Leader, Ahmedabad
Thawani told the media, “She's like my sister, I have apologised to her for what happened yesterday. We have cleared out the misunderstandings between us. I have promised to help her if she ever needs any help.”
Balram Thawani’s Brother Assaulted Tejwani First
Speaking with local news media on Sunday night, Nitu Tejwani claimed that she had first met local corporator Kishor Thawani, Balaram Thawani’s brother, as the water connections to their homes were disrupted last week.
“I told him that I have started the legal procedures against those who have cut our water line. But he (Kishor) didn’t even hear me out and started verbally abusing me and then he shoved me with his hand. I told my husband to shoot the whole incident but Kishor Thawani attacked him too. Yet he managed to shoot the video which we posted on social media We later lodged a complaint with the police but no action was taken against Kishor Thawani.”Nitu Tejwani, NCP Leader
Tejwani further added that on Sunday morning, several women came to her, claiming that the water being supplied to their homes was dirty like sewer water.
Tejwani and the group of women came to meet Balram Thawani in his office, to not only complain about his Kishor Thavani’s behaviour but also to request him to release water to their homes. However, both Balram and Kishor were not present at the office.
“We could hear people inside the office verbally abusing us. This triggered me and I started chanting slogans against Kishor Thavani. The women who had gathered also started chanting slogans against Kishor Thavani. By the Balram Thawani arrived at the office,” Tejwani said.
According to her, Balram rushed towards her, snatched her phone, slapped her and threw her on the ground.
“He then got sticks from his office and assaulted me. My husband intervened and held Balram from behind but by then 8-10 persons attacked him as well. We had not gone there with any pre-planned motive. My grudge was against Kishor Thavani who had attacked me and my husband and I wanted to tell Balram Thawani about it. However, Balram did exactly what Kishor Thavani did.”Nitu Tejwani, NCP Leader
BJP on Damage Control Mode
Meanwhile, Balram Thawani expressed regret over his conduct and said that he was swayed by emotions and shouldn’t have behaved violently.
“I had told the women to be patient as it is a Sunday and government offices remain shut. I asked them to come to the office the next day (Monday, 3 June) at 11 am so that we can call a meeting with the civic body officials. I understand that its summer and it can be extremely difficult. But they had pre-planned the protest and started shooting me on mobile. Then they started chanting slogans against me and things got out of hand. I got swayed by emotions and I shouldn’t have behaved the way I did. I will apologise to her.”Balram Thawani, BJP MLA from Naroda Ahmedabad
BJP Spokesperson Bharat Pandya in a video statement said that Thawani’s actions are unbecoming of a MLA.
“This is an embarrassing incident and we do not stand by it. As a MLA elected to office by the people, he (Balram Thawani) should not have behaved in such manner. Our state party President Jitu Vaghani called up Balram Thawani and asked him to explain himself and has directed him to issue an apology immediately.”Bharat Pandya, Gujarat BJP Spokesperson
Congress leader and leader of opposition in the Gujarat Assembly Paresh Dhanani condemned Thawani’s behaviour and has demanded action against him.
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