BJP MPs get hero’s welcome after money act in Parliament

Unlike Chandrabhan Singh, who is now a persona non grata in Damoh, the constituency he represents in the Lok Sabha, Argal and Kulaste returned to a hero’s welcome in their respective constituencies on Sunday. BJP workers had attacked Singh’s houses in Delhi, Jabalpur and Damoh, accusing him of abstaining from the vote for monetary benefits. Carrying party flags and garlands, BJP workers jostled to felicitate Argal amid beating of drums.

The Congress’ attempt to blacken the face of Argal when he arrived at Morena railway station backfired as the police used force and caned the activists.

Around a dozen Congress activists suffered minor injuries when they tried to force their way to the railway station, where BJP workers had gathered to felicitate Argal. Congress party’s Gwalior unit chief Prakash Khandelwal said the workers were not even allowed to wave black flags by the police.

Local SP Santosh Singh said the use of force was justified to keep the two groups away from each other. He said some policemen were also injured. A case has been registered against Congress workers under various sections of the IPC.

Mandla MP Faggan Singh Kulaste, too, was overwhelmed by the response he got on his return on Monday. “There is a tremendous excitement among people,” he told The Indian Express.

Ironically, party workers seemed to have forgotten that Kulaste was allegedly involved in the cash-for-query scandal leading to his temporary suspension. He was lucky to get the benefit of doubt then.

While the BJP workers are felicitating Argal and Kulaste, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party have taken to the streets against the duo. Accusing them of stage-managing the bribe show, the SP and Congress workers have demanded that they be subjected to a narco test to bring out the truth.