The building at the centre of a controversy involving BJP MLA Akash Vijayvargiya, who had thrashed Municipal Corporation officer Dhirendra Singh Bais with a cricket bat on 26 June in Indore, was razed to the ground on Friday, 5 July.
Vijayvargiya was granted bail by Bhopal's Special Court on 29 June and was released from jail a day later. He was earlier remanded to custody till 7 July.
According to the eye-witnesses, the locals were protesting against razing of a house when Vijayvargiya, who was a part of the protest, warned the civic body staff of consequences if they do not leave the spot.
Vijayvargiya said he had spoken to the municipal commissioner and sought extension for the tenants to stay in the building, which authorities claimed was dilapidated.
He then went on to beat up the officer, with a cricket bat, even as media persons surrounded him with cameras and recorded the entire incident.
After the video of the assault went viral on social media, police filed an FIR against Vijayvargiya and 10 others.
Soon after the incident, Indore Municipal Corporation employees held a demonstration by stopping their work.
Meanwhile, a day after the incident, the city municipal corporation suspended 21 employees for allegedly supporting the MLA rather than protecting their colleagues.
After PM’s Chide, BJP Issues Notice to Akash
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's gave out a stern message on the assault Akash Vijayvargiya on a civic official, the BJP’s Disciplinary Committee issued him a show cause notice on Thursday, 4 July, reported news agency ANI.
On Tuesday, Modi told party MPs that if anybody is bringing a bad name to the organisation with their conduct, it is "unacceptable.
PM Modi reportedly also said, “Kisi ka bhi beta ho, nikaal dena chahiye...” (doesn’t matter whose son he is, he should be ousted)
Earlier, Union Home Minister and BJP President Amit Shah sought a report from the Madhya Pradesh BJP on the assault of a municipal official.
Meanwhile, Vijayvargiya was also welcomed with garlands and sweets by his supporters – when he reached the BJP city office from the District Jail.
‘Mishandling From Both Sides’: Kailash Vijayvargiya
Akash’s father and BJP General Ssecretary Kailash Vijayvargiya called the incident “unfortunate” and “mishandling from both the sides”.
He said during an interview with ANI, “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.”
However, Akash had said he does not regret the incident, but would try follow Mahatma Gandhi’s path of non-violence while raising public issues in future.
In another interview to ANI, he further said that he “prays” he doesn’t get the chance to “bat again”.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI.)
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