by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
PM hints at Cabinet expansion, says "I am watching"
Wants action against arrogant Indore BJP MLA saying “No matter whose Son”
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, July 2
Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stern warning to the BJP lawmakers saying arrogance has no place in the party and such people be expelled without exception. Referring to a specific incident of Indore's BJP MLA Akash Vijayvargiya recently who was caught on camera assaulting an official with a cricket bat last week, Modi said, action be taken against him “Whoever it may be, whoever’s son he may be... such arrogance, misbehaviour cannot be tolerated."
The PM was pained to state that action be taken against all those who had welcomed Akash Vijayvargiya after his release from prison on bail. Looking at Union Home Minister and BJP president Amit Shah who was also sitting with the PM at the BJP parliamentary party, Modi said, “ I am surprised that there was no remorse after the incident. Rather, the person was given a rousing welcome after he was released from jail on bail. Is this acceptable? ” without referring to any one, the PM also condemned the tendency to defend such leaders.
Akash Vijayvargiya, 34, was garlanded by supporters as he stepped out of prison on bail. The first time BJP lawmaker is the son of BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvergiya, who is a close confidant of Amit Shah. Incidentally, Kailash Vijayvergiya was sitting in the last row at the Parliamentary party meeting today morning.
PM did not name him but obviously he was upset that the senior Vijayvergiya did not condemn his son's behaviour and rather defended him. Kailash Vijayvargiya had downplayed his son's offence, calling him a "kachha khiladi" (novice) and insisted it wasn't a "big issue" when he visited Indore yesterday.
PM did not stop here. He took the first time MPs of his party to task saying their absence at the time of the voting of crucial bills was surprising. “Its time for them to learn and sit in the house by participating. I am keeping a close watch on who is doing watch, how many sit and how many participate in the committee meetings and how many speak.”
The PM did not stop there. He surprised the MPs when he said, “ Whenever Cabinet expansion takes place, your performance will matter and nothing else.”
The word Cabinet expansion coming directly from the PM raised hopes among the many aspirants who had missed the bus on May 30. But it was clear message to the young first timers that they will have to work hard.
The BJP working president J P Nadda sat next to the PM and felicitated him on arrival along with Amit Shah and others.
