After a video of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Naroda, Balram Thawani, kicking a woman went viral on Sunday, he apologised and said he “accepts the mistake”.
The woman, Nitu Tejwani, is a ward in-charge of the NCP, according to The Times of India. She had gone to Thawani’s office over a local issue.
“I went to meet Balram to discuss the lack of proper water in the area. Without saying anything, he (Balram) came and started slapping and thrashing me. When my husband saw this, he came to my rescue. Immediately, some of Balram’s supporters came from inside and started thrashing my husband with sticks. Ladies who were protesting along with me were also brutally beaten up by Balram and his supporters,” Tejwani was quoted as saying by ANI. She had also lodged a complaint with the police.
Reacting to the incident, Thawani was quoted as saying by The Times of India, “I had not intended to do so, but I was heckled by a group and while defending myself, I kicked her by mistake.”
He later said that “it was not intentional”. “I got swayed by emotions. I accept the mistake, it was not intentional. I have been in politics for last 22 years, such thing has never happened before. I will say sorry to her,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.
After apologising to Tejwani, Thawani said, “she’s like my sister.”
The Congress, meanwhile, sought action against the MLA and demanded apology from the BJP and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
“Even 12 hours after the video went viral, the chief minister and the police are silent,” Congress state president Amit Chavda said.
NCP leader Jayant Bosky demanded suspension of the MLA from the Assembly as well as his expulsion from the BJP.
State BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya termed the incident “shameful” and said his party strongly condemned it.
“As soon as Jitubhai Vaghani (state BJP president) saw the video, he sought explanation from the MLA and asked him to apologise,” Pandya said.
“Such violence should not happen in Gandhi’s Gujarat. As public representatives, they should behave properly with the public. The party has taken the matter seriously,” he claimed.
(With PTI inputs)