New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday pulled up legislator Akash Vijayvargiya, son of veteran BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya, for assaulting a civic official with a bat during a demolition drive in Indore.
At the BJP’s parliamentary party meeting in Delhi, Modi said the party did not need 'netas' (lawmakers) who spoil its image and said action should be taken against those indulging in such behaviour. “Beta kisi ka bhi ho, manmaani nahi chalegi (it might be anyone's son, bad behaviour will not be tolerated)," he said.
Sources said Modi made a reference to the MLA's brazen defence of his attack on officials with a cricket bat with the boast "pahle nivedan, phir aavedan, phir danadan" (first request, then application, then attack).
Speaking to reporters, BJP MP and party spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy quoted Modi as saying that such conduct was "totally unacceptable". Modi also disapproved the conduct of those party functionaries, who celebrated the MLA's release from a jail in Indore.
Asked if the prime minister also suggested disciplinary action, Rudy answered in the affirmative. "He said if somebody behaves in such a way, then action should be taken against him. He made his feelings very clear," Rudy said.
Party leaders indicated that the Madhya Pradesh BJP may issue a show cause notice to Akash and also the local leaders who celebrated his release from jail. "If somebody commits a mistake, there should be a sense of regret as well," Modi was quoted as saying by a party leader.
Modi said BJP leaders have toiled hard for generations to bring the party success and such arrogance brings it a bad name. Kailash Vijayvargiya, a BJP national general secretary, was in the meeting when Modi deplored the incident.
Akash was arrested on June 26 for attacking a civic body official with a cricket bat after a heated argument over a demolition drive in Indore.
Justifying his action, Akash had also refused to show regret, claiming he had acted in "self-defence".
The BJP legislator was given a rousing welcome upon his release from jail. A video from Saturday also showed party workers indulging in celebratory gunfire outside his office after he was granted bail.
Kailash Vijayvargiya had earlier sought to play down the incident, saying although it was unfortunate, both sides were to be blamed.
"It is very unfortunate. I think there was mishandling from both the sides. 'Kachhe khiladi hain' (they are novice players), Akash ji bhi aur nagar nigam commissioner. It wasn't a big issue but it was made huge. 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," the BJP general secretary was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, the senior Vijayvargiya refused to comment on the issue while Akash also stayed away from the media glare. Several BJP leaders of the party's MP unit also refused to comment.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath welcomed the remarks from the Prime Minister and asked the BJP state leadership to heed his advice of acting against Akash Vijayvargiya. The ruling Congress in the state has demanded Akash's expulsion.
(With inputs from Vivek Trivedi in Bhopal)
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