BJP supporters of Madhya Pradesh’s Minister of State for Education Deepak Joshi wrecked a toll booth in Khargone, in the south western corner of the state, on Sunday. The incident, which is similar to the actions by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in Maharashtra and the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, has caused major embarrassment for Mr. Joshi who has routinely spoken out against corruption within the government. Mr. Joshi is the son of former CM Kailash Joshi.
Interestingly, no police complaint has been filed by the toll gate operator Dilip Buildcon, owned by mining baron Dilip Suryavanshi, although reports suggested that guards fired warning shots at the irate mob. Glass panes, closed circuit cameras and computers were destroyed in the attack which was sparked off by an altercation between toll officials and pilgrims from Joshi’s constituency of Hatpipliya in Dewas.
The pilgrims had accompanied Mr. Joshi to the Singaji Maharaj Temple in Khandwa and were on their way back when the clash took place. In an argument over the toll fee, an elder was allegedly scolded by a toll staffer following which men from vehicles flying BJP flags took the ire out on the toll equipment.
A police source confirmed the incident and said, on condition of anonymity, that the BJP men left after a compromise was reached. Mr. Joshi said that he condemns the incident and action would be taken if any BJP member was found guilty. “In my ten years as an MLA, no such incident took place. The fault lies on both the toll men and the villagers, but I condemn this behaviour of my people,” he told The Hindu.
