PM Modi Belatedly But Rightly Denounces Akash Vijayvargiya's Actions
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator. Author of Cyber Scams in India, Digital Arrest, The Money Trap and The Human Hack
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By Sunil Garodia
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Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator. Author of Cyber Scams in India, Digital Arrest, The Money Trap and The Human Hack
View all posts by this Author
At last, Prime Minister Modi has strongly denounced the actions, both verbal and physical, of Akash Vijayvargiya, son of BJP big-wig and national General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and MLA from Indore. Modi said that this sort of behavior was unacceptable and said that the law must not bend for anyone, even if he is the son of a highly placed father/mother.
This is a welcome development. For days after Vijayvargiya assaulted the civic official in Indore with a cricket bat, he was being made out to be a hero who meted out instant justice to someone who had allegedly pulled the hair of women to force them out of their houses which he had been deputed to raze. When he was released on bail, party workers welcomed him back with a show of pomp reserved for heroes, garlands and drums in place. Several state BJP leaders chose to defend him. Akash himself showed no remorse and alluded that he would do it again if a similar situation presented itself.
Akash alleged that the civic official was guilty of misbehavior and worse with the constituents. But that is just an allegation while his act of beating the officer has been captured on video and widely circulated. It is not clear whether Akash beat the officer for his alleged misbehavior or to prevent him from razing the buildings. But whatever be the fact, under no circumstance can anyone take the law in his hand to mete out instant justice.
It is expected that after the displeasure shown by PM Modi, the case would now be taken up without prejudice by the administration. Of course there would be attempts to patch things up out of court, with Vijayvargiya tendering an apology and the officer being pressurized to withdraw the case. But that would be a miscarriage of justice and would only serve to embolden sons of other politicians as they would find an escape route. The case should be pursued as per law and Vijayvargiya should be punished to deter others.
