RAIPUR: A road-rage incident that led to an attack on a vehicle in the convoy of a tribal MLA is snowballing into a political controversy in Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh, with the ruling party legislator demanding the removal of health minister T S Singh Deo, and claiming he feared for his life.
The incident took place on Saturday evening in Ambikapur, 330km from Raipur. Angry at being overtaken by vehicles in Congress legislator Brihaspati Singh’s convoy, a youngster intercepted a vehicle that was following the MLA, smashed its windshield and hurled abuses at the security personnel. Singh, a tribal leader, who represents Balrampur in the assembly, then went to Kotwali police station and alleged that “the men who attacked the vehicle, had also inquired about him”.
Police lodged an FIR under IPC and SC & ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, naming Sachin Singhdeo and others. Sachin is a relative of health minister T S Singhdeo. Three persons have been taken into custody in connection with the incident.
Singhdeo, a senior minister in the Bhupesh Baghel cabinet, said, “Such behaviour is not acceptable from anyone and the law must take its course. I have already told the SP that appropriate action must be taken.” He told mediapersons that he tried to talk to Brihaspati Singh but the legislator did not receive the calls.
The issue took a political turn on Sunday evening after Singh arrived in Raipur. More than a dozen Congress legislators, including many MLAs belonging to tribal communities, went to his residence to inquire about the incident.
In the presence of party legislators, Singh told media that he feared a threat to his life, and alleged that TS Singhdeo has been “insulting his own party legislators”. “I’m going to attend the Congress legislature party meeting, where I will raise the issue and request AICC general secretary P L Punia to take action against the minister,” he said.
Singh said: “A few days ago, while replying to questions from the media, I and other party leaders had said that chief minister Bhupesh Baghel is doing a good job and may continue as chief minister for the next 25 years. Singhdeo, who was in the race for the chief minister’s post, apparently did not like it. Now, his relative has attacked our vehicle.”
Singh Deo had not reacted to the claim till this report was filed.
