"He's A Novice": BJP's Kailash Vijayvargiya Defends Son Who Hit Official

Senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya has defended his son Akash Vijayvargiya - a party lawmaker - who assaulted a civic official with a cricket bat in Madhya Pradesh's Indore last week, calling him "kachha khiladi" or a "novice". Mr Vijayvargiya also said that the incident, which played out on national television, wasn't a "big issue".

Akash Vijayvargiya, 34, was arrested on Friday; he was released on bail on Sunday. The first-time legislator received a grand welcome from family and supporters as he walked out of a prison in Indore. Kailash Vijayvargiya, too, was present outside the jail where his son was garlanded by supporters as he stepped out.

"I think there was mishandling from both the sides. Both Akash ji and the municipal corporation commissioner are novice players. It was not a big issue, but it was blown out of proportion," Kailash Vijayvargiya said.

Vijayvargiya junior, who represents the assembly seat of Indore-3, was seen on video assaulting a civic body official in Indore last Wednesday. The politician and his supporters chased a civic body official with a cricket bat in the presence of policemen and television crews. A video of the dramatic scenes was shared widely on social media, drawing criticism from rival parties.

Akash Vijayvargiya was arrested for thrashing an Indore civic body official with a cricket bat.

The official, who was beaten up, was part of a team that was on an anti-encroachment drive in Indore when they were approached by Akash Vijayvargiya and his supporters. Mr Vijayvargiya had alleged that the team of officials dragged and verbally abused women occupants of a residential building.

Kailash Vijayvargiya, the BJP's National General Secretary, today suggested that civic officials should not have shown "arrogance" and that they should have listened to his son as he is an elected representative. "I think officers should not be arrogant. They should talk to people''s representatives," he said.

Akash Vijayvargiya was garlanded by supporters when he walked out of the prison.

On Sunday, Akash Vijayvargiya's supporters celebrated his reprieve at the Indore BJP office and his home office. Outside his home where he was welcomed with a traditional aarti, police personnel who were on duty were seen accepting sweets offered by a supporter of Mr Vijayvargiya. Supporters were also firing shots in the air at the BJP office on Saturday, soon after a special court in Bhopal announced his bail.

Mr Vijayvargiya was unapologetic about what he did. "I am not guilty or embarrassed about what I did as it was in public interest... I will keep working for the betterment of the region and the public," Mr Vijayvargiya said after he stepped out of the jail. "I pray to god that I should not be given another opportunity to pick up the bat (I pray to god ki vo dobara ballebazi karne ka avsar na de)," he said after stepping out of prison.

BJP chief Amit Shah, who is also the Union Home Minister, had sought a report about the case from the party's Madhya Pradesh unit even as Akash Vijayvargiya's supporters rallied behind him and camped outside the jail where he was imprisoned.

(With inputs from ANI)