Indore/Bhopal, Oct 30 A social activist protesting alleged corruption in the purchase of various items by local bodies in Madhya Pradesh was detained by police on Friday after he waved posters at a ruling BJP programme in Indore in the presence of state minister Kailash Vijayvargiya.
A video of the incident during the BJP’s ‘Loktantra Bachao, Arajakta Hatao’ (save democracy, end anarchy) foot march was being circulated on social media. It showed social activist Prahlad Pandey waving a poster with ‘Rs 30,000 per bulb, Rs 33,000 per litre of phenyl. Answer us’ written on it.
In the video, Vijayvargiya, the state’s Urban Development and Housing Minister, who was on the dais, is heard asking the police to put the protester in a vehicle for some time, saying he was creating “nuisance”.
Vijayvargiya is also heard expressing anger at Pandey and saying, “Wherever we have to answer, we will. Leave this place now… otherwise, people will give you an answer for free.” The MP minister also alleged that Pandey was associated with “anarchists”.
The video shows a person snatching the poster from Pandey’s hands, and the police taking away the activist in a vehicle. Pandey is repeatedly heard asking the police personnel what his offence was.
Later, Pandey said he was raising the issue of alleged corruption in the purchase of various items by urban local bodies in the state.
“Democracy survives when people ask questions and those in power answer them,” the activist said.
Incidentally, the protest comes amid scrutiny of alleged financial irregularities in Madhya Pradesh’s urban local bodies.
As many as 392 officials of different ranks, including 135 at the chief municipal officer level, are under investigation or have been investigated, while seven officials have been dismissed from service, a senior official had said in Bhopal on Sunday.
(PTI News)
