By IANS
Bhopal : Madhya Pradesh Congress Saturday staged a sit-in here to protest against registration of a criminal case against their party MP Jyotiraditya Scindia and threatened to launch a statewide agitation on the issue.
The incident occurred at the ‘bhoomi pujan’ or inauguration of construction work of a road under the Prime Minister’s Rural Road Scheme, better known as Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana, in Shivpuri on Thursday.
Local MLA and Rashtriya Samanata Dal leader Hari Vallabh Shukla was invited to chair the function while Scindia was the chief guest.
Shukla performed the ‘bhoomi pujan’ as Scindia was several hours late for the function, which led to a scuffle between the supporters of both the leaders. Several people received minor injuries.
Police registered a case against both the parties but the Congress alleged that even though Shukla supporters opened fire in the air to threaten its workers, police have registered a criminal case against Scindia who was not even present at the time of incident.
The Congress party called for a shutdown in Shivpuri town on Thursday and in Gwalior on Friday, while Congress MLA Virendra Raghuwanshi went on a hunger strike to demand withdrawal of the case against Scindia.
Shukla had once contested the Lok Sabha elections on the BJP ticket is known for his strong anti-Scindia stand.
“The ruling BJP is supporting Shukla because he had been associated with the BJP in the past”, the Congress leaders alleged.
Refuting Congress’ claim that Scindia was not present when the clash occurred, BJP maintained that the supporters came to blows on the instigation of Scindia.
“There was nothing wrong in registering an FIR against Scindia and action would be taken against whosoever is found guilty”, said state BJP spokesperson Uma Shankar Gupta.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Pachauri has condemned the incident and said that he had already spoken to the Union Home Minister, the Madhya Pradesh Governor and the Director General of Police in this regard.
“Stern action be taken against the guilty who registered the FIR without verifying whether Scindia was present or not”, said Pachauri. He added that Congress would launch a statewide agitation if the BJP does not withdraw the case against Scindia.