Maha BJP leader Pasha Patel faces FIR for abusing journalist in Latur
Who buys petrol? Somebody who has a car or bike. Certainly he’s not starving. People who can afford to pay should pay KJ ALPHONS, Union tourism minister
MUMBAI: In yet another bizzare reaction to questions about the price of petrol in the country, another BJP leader, Pasha Patel was booked for abusing a journalist in Latur after he was asked for a reaction about the high prices.
Patel was recently appointed as the first honorary chairman of state commission for agricultural costs and prices. The commission was formed to recommend the minimum support price (MSP) to the government for each crop after carrying out a detailed study on input cost, crop pattern and production.
Vishnu Burge, journalist from a Marathi news channel asked Patel for a reaction on the rising fuel prices on Saturday. The BJP leader reportedly lost his temper and started abusing the journalist. The incident was captured in a video clip that has gone viral on social media.
Latur police registered a criminal case against the BJP leader under section 294, 504 and 526 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
In his complaint, Burge has said he was abused and threatened by the leader.
The incident comes at a time when fuel prices are at a threeyear high though international crude prices have crashed.
Patel is a senior BJP leader and former MLC who had defected from Sharad Pawar led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in 2000.
A day earlier reacting on a similar question, Alphons has said “Who buys petrol? Somebody who has a car or bike. Certainly he’s not starving. People who can afford to pay should pay,” he said.