By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 19 Sep: BJP State President Mahendra Bhatt today stated that the ruckus created and abuses hurled by a Congress MLA at the residence of an officer late at night was deplorable. Bhatt was referring to a video that has gone viral on social media showing the Congress MLA from Dwarahat, Madan Bisht, who had gone to the residence of Krishna Kant Singh Mer, Director of Kumaon Institute of Technology, and created a ruckus, threatening him and his wife and even abusing them allegedly over the issue of a tender. Following this, Mer filed a case against Bisht with the Dwarahat Police Station late on Sunday night.
Mahendra Bhatt asserted that, on the one hand, the Congress MLAs in the House are expressing concern about breach of privilege and, on the other hand, they are openly indulging in unruly and violent manner.
Bhatt said that the MLAs are uttering abusive and indecent words and also trying to blame the BJP to justify their actions.
The BJP leader claimed that, as a matter of fact, the irresponsible conduct and autocratic behaviour of Congress MLAs has existed since the very beginning. The public has also seen the incident of overturning a secretary’s table and threatening him at the secretariat during the previous Congress government.
Bhatt stressed that, in case the MLA had any genuine grievances, he could have presented his views during the day at the office during work hours. But the way he reached the officer’s house late at night and issued threats was shameful.
The BJP State President also sought an explanation from Bisht on which of his rights had been violated, as he is seen claiming in the viral video. Bhatt was obviously referring to the tender that Bisht allegedly wanted to influence.
The BJP leader also expressed surprise over senior Congress leaders maintaining a deliberate silence on the issue. He said that, instead of admitting his mistake, the Congress MLA is attempting to blame the BJP. While the law would take its course, the Congress High Command should also take cognisance of the incident, he pointed out. Bhatt further claimed that the entire family of the Director and the college students are in panic due to this incident. For this reason, there has also been a demonstration held by students. The entire college administration, director’s family and students are feeling unsafe due to the threats issued by the Congress MLA.
Meanwhile, BJP state media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan stated that a delegation of BJP MLAs called on the Governor against the indecent and violent behaviour of the Congress leader. He also added that the BJP Mahila Morcha and Yuva Morcha had held demonstrations in protest against such unruly behaviour by the Congress MLA, today, across the state.
It may be recalled that following the complaint filed, the MLA has been booked under different sections of the IPC, including 506 (criminal intimidation) and 452 (house trespass to cause hurt). Other sections of the IPC imposed on the MLA are section 427 (mischief causing damage) and 504 (insult, provocation). As per the complaint filed, Bisht turned up at the residence of College Director KKS Mer on Saturday night and created a ruckus outside his house along with his men in the presence of his wife and daughter. In this respect, Mer has also demanded protection for himself and his family members. According to police, Mer said that, before reaching his residence late night on Saturday, Bisht had spoken to him on the phone about some tenders and had sounded drunk.
On the other hand, Bisht, too, has filed a counter complaint alleging that the engineering college director had violated protocol by not responding to his repeated telephone calls. Police are yet to file an FIR on Bisht’s complaint. On other hand, Bisht has claimed that he will undertake a fast unto death outside the Engineering College Gate if no action is taken against Mer and also raise the issue in the House under a notice of breach of privilege for misbehaving with an elected MLA. The MLA on Sunday held a press conference in Dwarahat saying he would observe a “fast unto death” outside the college gate if action is not taken against Mer. He further claimed that he had been receiving some complaints from employees and daily wagers and wanted to discuss them with the College Director but his calls were not picked up.
It may further be recalled that, in the past, Bisht was also allegedly involved in the infamous sting that had become viral in 2016 when the then Cabinet Minister Harak Singh Rawat and the then senior Congress leader Vijay Bahuguna had led a rebellion against then CM Harish Rawat.
