A minister of Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan has been accused of mistreating a woman officer. Madhya Pradesh Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Gopal Bhargava is accused of saying 'Bai' of Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Vasu Kannujiya.

Not only that, the minister is accused of not only verbally insulting the women officers but also said to the villagers that if the forest department staff prevent them from collecting chironji, mahua and tendu leaf from the forest, they also break their bones.

A speech of Minister Gopal Bhargava allegedly being reported in the social media is viral. In this video clips, Gopal Bhargava is reported saying to the villagers that, "that ranger or DFO ... Bai who has come let tell her ... should be told if the small yield that the tribals and poor people collect for their living, if it will seize then their hands and feet will be broken."

According to the English website, IndiaTimes, Minister Gopal Bhargava allegedly gave the speech on April 26. Then he was addressing a meeting of people in Mohali. Mohali comes under the Nauradehi Wildlife Century.

In this speech Bhargava also accused the Forest Department officials of corruption.

On June 1, DFO of Nauradehi and IFS officer of 2010 batch Vasu Kannujiya wrote a letter to his association and demanded action against the minister.

Vasu Kannujiya cited media reports and wrote in her complaint letter, "After the minister's sedition, there have been incidents of assault with the staff of the Forest Department, fear of assault, the forest department employees are scared of going to the forest."

However, Gopal Bhargava has defended himself on his statement. Bhargava has said that as far as I know the word 'Bai' is taken with respect to women.

Gopal Bhargava said that legal action should not be taken against the tribals in my area, forest officials are disturbing the tribals, and also preventing them from collecting small things from the forest.

(Click here for Android APP of IBTN. You can follow us on facebook and Twitter)

Share This News

About sharing