GUN LOVING MLA BACK IN BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s

Uttarakhand MLA, Pranav Singh

“Champion” loves guns and believes in showing off. A year after “Champion”, who represents

Khanpur in Haridwar district, was expelled from the saffron party’s primary membership following a viral video of the lawmaker dancing with guns, he was welcomed back into the fold at a re-induction function at state BJP president Bansidhar Bhagat’s residence on Monday. He came with his wife and family members. And, after the re-induction, he took out a big motorcade in his constituency, with a hooter mounted on the top of a vehicle.

Champion was re-inducted after Bhagat summoned him and three other BJP MLAS mired in controversy, to present their side before the party leadership. The other three MLAS include Dwarahat MLA Mahesh Negi, who was recently accused of rape by a woman, Jhabreda MLA Deshraj Karnwal and Lohaghat MLA Pooran Singh Fartyal, who were both served show cause notices for indiscipline earlier.

In July 2019, Champion was expelled from the party for six years after a video featuring him dancing with guns and alcohol in an indecent manner surfaced. He was also heard using abusive words for Uttarakhand state and its residents in the video.

Bhagat said, “There were talks in the party since last one year to take him back. On that line, we spoke to him during the party’s core committee meeting on Sunday and told him that he would be taken back if he promises to work as per the party constitution and not indulge in any controversy. He agreed to both and apologised.”

Bhagat also spoke about forgiving Deshraj Karnwal, who was served a show-cause notice for misbehaving with party workers in his constituency. An audio clip had gone viral in which he was purportedly heard using inappropriate words against a party worker while speaking to him.

“Karnwal has also apologised and the leadership has decided to forgive him,” said Bhagat. Negi and Fartyal did not show up for the meeting.

On the rape allegations against Negi, Bhagat said, “The allegations are serious as they have pointed towards his character. However, the police are probing the matter including his wife’s complaint against the woman for trying to blackmail and extort Rs 5 crore from him. If after the investigation, Negi is found guilty, the party will take strict action against him as discipline is everything in our organisation.”

Pritam Singh, state Congress president termed the development as “the end of ethical values in BJP.” Singh told The Sunday Guardian that “the rape allegations against another BJP MLA Negi are serious. The woman has been demanding a DNA test to prove her claims but no action has been taken by the government so far.”