In UP, ministers, MLAs hog headlines for the wrong reasons

Television channels, especially Hindi channels, are having a field day playing videos showing various acts of misconduct by BJP ministers, MLAs and local leaders in the state. The insensitive conduct in the backdrop of the chief minister Yogi Adityanath speaking from a pedestal and laying down a code of conduct for ministers has shocked the people.

Under the seven codes of conduct, ministers have been advised to stay away from contractors, not to accept gifts valued at more than ₹5,000, to stay at government guesthouses while on tour and to avoid high-profile parties.

In view of the growing number of attacks, assaults and abuses that the ministers, MLAs and local leaders are getting involved in, the chief minister could be seriously thinking of expanding the code of conduct.

Some of the more insensitive acts which have come to light are the following:

BJP workers barge into the bedroom of a BDO

When a lady working as a Block Development Officer complained of misbehaviour by local BJP workers who had barged into her bedroom and abused her, Uttar Pradesh Minister Mahendra Singh declared that such misdemeanour was beyond anyone associated with the party. After denying the possibility of any such event, the minister in the very next breath said that sometimes such things happen in the “heat of the moment”.

Video of the officer complaining:

The minister’s reaction:

MLA and supporters assault staff at toll plaza

BJP MLA from Biswan (Sitapur) Mahendra Yadav along with his supporters assaulted the staff at a toll plaza in Bareilly when he was returning from Delhi to Lucknow. Asked for the toll tax, the MLA and his supporters got off their vehicles and beat up the staff.

Video of the incident was shared in the social media. Courtesy: One India

A physically challenged employee abused by minister

The Minister for Khadi and Village Industries, Satyadev Pachauri publicly humiliated a physically challenged employee and sought an explanation why a ‘langda and loola’ (lame) had been employed. He made the insensitive statement while on a surprise inspection of the Khadi Gramodyog Board Office in the Dalibagh locality of Lucknow.

Local leader assaults police in Meerut

Sanjay Tyagi, a local BJP leader from Meerut, assaulted a policemen and forcibly took away his son from police custody. The boy had been booked for misbehaving with a police officer on duty.