BHOPAL: Released on bail from Indore District Jail on Sunday, four days after being arrested for assaulting civic body official with a cricket bat, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargya’s BJP MLA son Akash Vijayvargiya said he would now walk Mahatma Gandhi’s path of non-violent protest and never bat again.
In a brief interaction with scribes outside the jail, the 34-year-old first-time Indore-III legislator said, “Garibon pe sitam aur mahilaon pe zulam, ye hum kisi bhi bhi keemat par nahi sahenge. Magar koshish poori rahegi ki Gandhiji ke tarike se hi uska samna karein. Aage se Gandhiji ka rasta apnanein ka prayas karenge, mai ishwar se prarthna karta hoon ki dubara ballebaji karne ka avsar kabhi na de. (We won’t tolerate the oppression of poor and women at any cost. But will henceforth adopt Gandhiji’s path of protest, I pray to god that I don’t have to bat again).”
The young BJP lawmaker, whose father Kailash Vijayvargiya has been the city’s mayor, besides being BJP MLA multiple times from three different seats of Indore district, however, had no regrets about what he did on Wednesday.
“Jo hamne decision liya thaa us din, voh hamne soch samajh ke liya thaa, zimmedari ke saath liya thaa, isliye usko lekar koi regret nahi hai. Mera sabhi yuvaon se nivedan hai ki prayas karne chaiye Gandhiji ke marg par chalet huye, ahinsak tarike se apni baat rakhne ka. (I don’t regret what I did that day, as it was decided following proper thought and with full responsibility. But I appeal all youngsters to adopt Gandhiji’s path of non-violent protest and dissent).”
When questioned about his stay in Jail, the BJP lawmaker said, “I’d a good time in the jail and whenever brought out of the cell, I spent most time at the Shiva temple inside.
On Wednesday after assaulting Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) Zone Officer-III Dhirendra Singh Bayas (while the civic body team was about to start demolishing a dilapidated house in Indore’s Ganji Compound area), Akash had boasted before scribes at the MG Road police station, “BJP mein hamne seekha hai, pahle avedan, phir nivedan and phir de danadan (In the BJP we’ve learnt, first plea, then request and finally assault).”
Just a few moments later, Akash, had on Wednesday afternoon, changed his stance over the incident, saying, “since I was seething with anger, I don’t remember what I did.”
When queried by scribes, as to whether there was some political conspiracy behind delay in grant of bail to him in two cases – Wednesday assault on IMC officer and the case pertaining to protest over unscheduled power cuts recently – the legislator said, “You all know better than me, there were pressures. But I firmly believe whatever happens is for good.”
After being denied bail in the two cases on Wednesday and Thursday by two courts in Indore, Akash was granted bail by the Special Court (MP/MLA cases) in Bhopal on Saturday evening, after which he walked out of the jail on Sunday in Indore. He was greeted outside the jail by BJP leaders and supporters, including Indore-II MLA and father’s close aide Ramesh Mendola.
In Indore, considered Madhya Pradesh’s commercial capital, Kailash Vijayvargiya and Ramesh Mendola are famously known as Dada-Bhai.
Celebratory firing ahead of Akash’s release
Just after the special court in Bhopal granted bail to Akash in both cases on Saturday evening, celebrations burst outside his office in Indore-III assembly segment of Indore, with a man identified as Kripal Singh firing in air from a gun, despite celebratory firing being banned in the state.
However, when contacted by journalists on Saturday evening, Kripal Singh, who claimed that neither was he a BJP worker nor an Akash supporter said since celebrations were on, he fired in air with an air-gun.
While the Indore Police initially denied any such incident, the cops changed their stance on Sunday evening, saying the matter is being probed by Sanyogitaganj police.
Cops relish sweets after Akash’s release
While on duty cops had helplessly watched Akash and aides assault the IMC anti-encroachment team in Ganji Compound area on Wednesday. Four days later, on Sunday, some cops deployed outside Akash’s house in Nanda Nagar locality were seen relishing sweets distributed by BJP supporters, after Akash’s release from jail.