Hours after Bharuch BJP MP Mansukh Vasava and Dediapada AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava — both candidates for the Lok Sabha poll from Bharuch — indulged in a public spat at Dediapada in Narmada district, Chaitar wrote to the Rajpipla deputy superintendent of police (DySP) late Friday, warning of an “aggressive agitation” by the tribal population “should the police lodge another false case (against him) at the behest of the BJP”.
Stating that the BJP, through Mansukh, was “trying to create another false case” against him, Chaitar said that along with his supporters, he would “take to the streets against the police as well as the ruling party”.
Chaitar was arrested last November in a case of extortion and assault of forest officials and was released on bail in January this year.
The Dediapada taluka panchayat office had witnessed tense moments on Friday, as the two leaders faced off over Mansukh’s social media post alleging that Chaitar had threatened the TDO of Dediapada. Videos of the heated argument had gone viral on social media.
Along with his supporters, Chaitar submitted an application to DySP Lokesh Yadav, who was visiting Dediapada police station late Friday. He alleged that a social media post put up by Mansukh, alleging that Chaitar had threatened the taluka development officer (TDO) of Dediapada, was “false and baseless”.
“I have submitted an application to the police stating that the BJP is trying to create situations to register false cases to harass me again. I had visited the TDO office only for public work in my constituency and did not threaten the TDO. If the police, at the behest of the BJP, tries to lodge false cases against me this time, I will not take it lying down,” Chaitar told mediapersons on Saturday.
He added that he also verbally informed the DySP that there will be an agitation if the need arises. “If these people try to create another false case against me, Dediapada will witness a huge agitation. We are not crooked people, we take the Constitution along with us when we work. However, this time, if the police files any false case against me like earlier, we will take on the police…”
“Earlier too, at the behest of the BJP, the police had lodged false cases against me to harass me and my family. This time the tribal population of Dediapada will begin an aggressive agitation and whatever law and order crisis arises in Dediapada after that will be the responsibility of Mansukh Vasava,” he added.
When contacted, Narmada SP Prashant Sumbe said: “We have received the application submitted by the Dediapada MLA. He has said that the allegation that he had threatened the TDO was false and that he had only visited the TDO office for his constituency-related issues…”
“There is no case so far. Chaitar Vasava also orally told the DySP that he would take to the streets along with his supporters if a case is lodged against him and the onus of the law and order situation in Dediapada is on the Bharuch MP,” he added.