BHOPAL: A public programme to launch road development projects by Union minister Nitin Gadkari and Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Guna district on Monday triggered a controversy after local MP and Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia was allegedly not included in the guest list.
Congress MLA from Bamori seat Mahendra Singh Sisodiya registered his protest right at the event in the presence of Gadkari, Chouhan and PWD minister Rampal Singh.
The scene turned ugly when Sisodiya was allegedly forced to leave the stage by plain clothed security personnel after he announced to boycott the programme over the local MP not being invited to the event. Rampal Singh, however, claimed that Scindia was given the invite.
Later, Sisodiya told journalists that the Guna programme for laying a foundation of National Highway projects, which were sanctioned in 2012 during the UPA regime following Scindia's special efforts. "During the function, I approached Union minister Gadkari and informed him about our MP not being invited to the function, which was against the protocol," Sisodiya told TNIE.
The Congress MLA said he refused to follow Chauhan's instruction to speak with the district collector as the event was not organised by the latter. "Left with no option, I turned to the public and announced to boycott the function as it insulted our MP. In no time, security personnel surrounded me and pushed me off the stage."
Scindia, himself, tweeted to slam the BJP government for the Congress MLA’s humiliation by the security personnel.
Guna district collector B Vijay Datta said that the information about the programme was made to Scindia over phone, but Scindia's personal secretary informed that the Guna MP would not make it to the July 23 event due to Parliament duties. "After this (information), his name was not mentioned on the invite and the foundation stones," Datta added.
At the event, minister in-charge for Guna district Jaibhan Singh Pawaiya was also present along with Gadkari and Chouhan. The list of invitees included Rajgarh Lok Sabha member Rodmal Nagar, and five MLAs from Guna district - Pannalal Shakya, Gopilal Jatav and Mamta Meena (BJP) and Jaivardhan Singh and Mahendra Singh Sisodiya (Congress). Barring Singh, all other MLAs were present at the event.