Kanpur: Political arrogance and threats to the voters as well as officials have been persistent throughout this election season. The latest to join this list is senior BJP leader from Kanpur, Suresh Awasthi, who threatened a circle officer, Janardhan Dubey, after an argument over a polling agent.
In a video that has gone viral on social media, Awasthi is seen engaging in a scuffle with Dubey after he allegedly snatched a voter list from the BJP polling agent. Awasthi can be heard threatening the circle officer, saying “will see you tomorrow, you are on my hit list.” He is also heard warning the officer not to look him in the eye. The officer responded to the threat by telling the BJP leader “to do whatever he wants.”
Kanpur mayor Pramila Pandey and some other BJP leaders were also present when the incident took place. The mayor was seen making efforts to resolve the fight, while Awasthi was heard saying “he (the officer) is a wicked person.”
The incident took place during voting at a primary school under Gwaltoli police station in Kanpur.
BJP members have been passing controversial remarks and behaving in an autocratic manner this election. Earlier, at an election event in Pokhran, BJP’s candidate from Jodhpur, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, was caught threatening the administration and saying, “Today, I am warning the ‘prashasan’
(administration) standing on the podium. This election is not the last election. Government changes in five years. I have kept the ‘janampatri’ (horoscope) of each and everyone. My name will not be Gajendra Singh, if I don’t hang them upside down (Ulta na latka du toh mera naam Gajendra Singh nahi hai).” Adding further, Shekhawat said, “The police and the officials are dancing to the tune of Ashok Gehlot government, which is not right. They are removing party flags only from our houses and catching our vehicles.”
In another distinctly autocratic act, BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, ‘warned’ the district collector (of consequences) if his party were to return to power, after, allegedly, his helicopter was denied permission to land in Chhindwara’s Umreth. Earlier, even the union minister and BJP’s candidate from Buxar, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, was caught misbehaving with the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) KK Upadhyay after his convoy was stopped for violating the Model Code of Conduct. He had said that he knows how to instil sense in the SDM.
Such ‘goonda-raj’ by the politicians poses a severe threat on our democratic system and constitutional values. Also, threats of assaulting and/or sacking them from their position, restricts the bureaucrats from performing their duties and abiding by their oath.
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