New Delhi

BJP MLA, councillor in fisticuffs

NEW DELHI: In yet another incident highlighting the fist-culture prevalent in the Capital’s local political circles, Naharpur Councillor Pravesh Wahi and Rohini MLA Jai Bhagwan Agarwal were engaged in unrestrained fisticuffs at a function organised by the former on the occasion of inauguration of road development work at Naharpur here on Friday.

What made matters worse was that Mr. Aggarwal was apparently the chief guest at the function and the two warring politicians belong to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

MCD Standing Committee Chairman Vijender Gupta, who was also present at the scene of action, managed to evade assault by a hair’s breadth by escaping backstage and making his way to his car. Mr. Gupta evidently observed Mr. Aggarwal manhandling the Councillor on stage even as a speech was in progress. “I ran to my car, but a crowd of miscreants had blocked the way. The driver finally managed to manoeuvre the vehicle out of the mess,” he said. When contacted, Mr. Wahi said he was “not in a physical condition to speak” and that the interests of the party were of paramount importance to him and above “minor scuffles”.

Giving his version of the incident, Mr. Aggarwal said the fiasco had happened because only half the funds that he had earlier given to the civic body for developmental work in Naharpur had been utilised for that purpose, with the remaining money allegedly spent on other zones.

Though rumours abounded of both adversaries being admitted to Ambedkar Hospital with injuries, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer Delhi) Sagarpreet Hooda said no case had been registered as nothing of consequence was found in the medical examination.

Taking cognisance of the matter, Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan demanded a report from the district party president and said: “Such incidents are certainly a cause of embarrassment to the party. We will look into the matter and take necessary action.”

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