In Madhya Pradesh, miffed BJP ticks off minister over assault case against his son

The ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh was left red-faced and seemed to be in a damage-control mode just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls as the police on Wednesday asked minister Narendra Shivaji Patel’s son Abhigyan Patel to sign a bond after he was booked Saturday on charges of assaulting a couple in Bhopal.

“The proceedings have begun. The minister’s son has not yet signed the bond. We are waiting for the medical reports (of the victims),” Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) of Habibganj in Bhopal, Mayur Khandelwal said.

Following the incident allegedly involving Abhigyan, state BJP chief V D Sharma warned the minister, publicly saying that “no one has the right to resort to hooliganism”.

BJP leaders confirmed that minister Patel was reprimanded by Sharma. “The state chief has told the minister to be careful and cautioned him against getting involved in such incidents in the future,” a party leader said.

According to the police, Abhigyan, who was in a four-wheeler, had a tiff with a journalist riding a two-wheeler at a crossing in the city. He allegedly assaulted the journalist, prompting the owner of a nearby restaurant and his wife to intervene. He allegedly thrashed the duo too.

The incident has provided ammunition to the principal Opposition Congress. State Congress president Jitu Patwari has also slammed the BJP government over the suspension of four policemen for having allegedly manhandled Abhigyan following the incident.

Meanwhile, another BJP leader admitted the incident has hit the party’s image, especially at a time when its campaign is revolving around nepotism and hooliganism. “The minister’s son, who has been taking the lead in his father’s activities for some time now, is under the radar. Prime Minister Narendra