DJ Venkatesh
Port Blair, Mar 19: Two BJP grassroots leaders on Sunday reportedly jumped the queue at Middle Strait Jetty to board vehicle ferry and when they were denied by the Police Jawans, these leaders not only allegedly misbehaved with police Jawans but also a truck driver at Middle Strait Jetty.
The matter came to light when, based on a complaint lodged by a fellow passenger, the police team of PS Baratang brought these two grassroots leaders Mr. Ajay Bairagi, State General Secretary BJP and Mr. Shyamal Bhowmick, Pradhan, R.K Gram to PS Baratang and were questioned.
Later as per highly placed sources these two leaders were let go, when they apologized with the Police Jawan, with whom they had misbehaved. This matter has also reportedly mentioned in GD entry in PS Barantang and can be checked by anyone through RTI.
Now after publication of the news the BJP leaders are in denying mode. Mr. Mohan Halder State Secretary of BJP was first to react in social media and without knowing the complete fact, he backed the BJP leaders and also indirectly targeted the Police Department for taking bribe for giving preference to cargo truck in vehicle ferry.
“Chance of corruption (probably kick back, he meant) to receive from loaded truck cannot be totally over ruled. Requesting police department to take appropriate steps to give justice to all,” Mr. Halder said in his comment for which he could not provide any evidence. This was obviously a desperate attempt to misguide the public and divert attention of public from the actual issue.
He also added “ I contacted with Shyamal Bhowmick ji, Pradhan, RK Gram, to check the fact, according to his version, their vehicle was in 14th number, and upto 13th number the vehicle was taken in first ferry, but in 2nd ferry, they were deprived and few trucks loaded with stone products were permitted, on the other hand, two Pradhan and Ajay Ji, had to go to Diglipur, and they were not permitted even after protest, and permitted to go by third ferry.”
When contacted, Mr. Ajay Bairagi, State General Secretary BJP and Mr. Shyamal Bhowmick, Pradhan, R.K Gram refuted all allegations and told Andaman Sheekha that they reached Middle Strait at 1030 AM but instead of sending 13 vehicles ahead of them and when they were at number one position a big loaded truck was sent ahead of them.
“When we said that we are from BJP party and flag is also mounted in the car they didn’t care. We also said that we will complain against him with SP, DGP & LG. We planned to lodge complain against this in PS Baratang but instead the police came to us and asked to reach PS Baratang, where the staff and officers ill treated us like Pakistani National. The Hawaldar misguided the police and detained in PS. I also said that I am nominated Home Ministry advisory member and CBFC nominated member,” said Mr. Bairagi.
Meanwhile, this has been learnt that the DSS has recently issued orders in which it said that due to defected ramp of one Vehicle ferry (MV Kadamtala) all loaded trucks has to be carried only in MV North Bay, which was the reason why the loaded truck was given priority on Sunday.
Since long Andaman and Nicobar Islands are demanding assembly and these kind of incidents show that Andaman and Nicobar Islands are perhaps still not ready for Statehood, simply because except few most of the public leaders consider themselves as Masters of General Public.
One wonders that if local leaders can demand VIP treatment even in present system where PRI members and Grassroots leaders enjoy no direct power, what they would do, when they would get unlimited power.
