Sarnaik alleges mob pressured Mira-Bhayandar civic chief at home, seeks probe

Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has alleged that a crowd entered the residence of the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation commissioner and put pressure on the official. Sarnaik says this followed alleged attacks on journalists and aware citizens at the corporation. The allegations have yet to be officially confirmed.

Sarnaik claims the commissioner was pressured to register a case under Section 353 of the Indian Penal Code against journalists and citizens. He has demanded a thorough inquiry and strict action against the guilty. He made the demand to the Governor, the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister, the Director General of Police and the Mira-Bhayandar Police Commissioner.

Expressing anger over the recent incidents, Sarnaik voiced concern about the city's democratic system. He said that in his 17 years as a legislator he had never seen such incidents. He said the public had given the BJP a large majority, but that majority must be used within the bounds of democratic values. A majority, he said, gives no one the right to bully.

Sarnaik described the uproar in the corporation auditorium, the alleged attacks on journalists and the beating of aware citizens as serious. He said journalists are the fourth pillar of democracy. He claims to have seen videos in which some corporators appear to be assaulting people in the press room and the citizens' room.

According to Sarnaik, when journalists called late on the night of the incident, he enquired about what had happened at the commissioner's residence. He then sent his workers to the spot as well. He alleges that a crowd of about 250 to 300 people, along with MLA Narendra Mehta and some corporators, had gone to the commissioner's house at that time.

Sarnaik said he spoke to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, the municipal commissioner and the additional commissioner to ask on what basis the section would be applied. According to him, the commissioner and the additional commissioner had initially said these people had come only to hand over a letter. But Sarnaik alleges that a case was then registered under pressure in the early hours of the morning.

Sarnaik also raised the issue of the safety of the commissioner's family. According to him, the commissioner's wife and young children were at home at the time. He said that if a crowd went to an administrative officer's house and tried to pressure the officer, it is a very serious matter. What actually happened at the residence will become clear only through an inquiry.

Sarnaik has demanded a fair inquiry. He said that if unlawful entry into the commissioner's residence or pressuring of the commissioner is proved, cases should be registered against those concerned. He has also asked the Governor to act against the accused public representatives and to consider cancelling their corporator posts.

Sarnaik said, "These incidents taking place in Mira-Bhayandar are a stain on democracy. A majority has been won, but that does not give anyone the right to bully. To keep the rule of law, strict action must be taken against the guilty."

Attention now turns to what stand the state government and police take to test the truth of the allegations. No official response has yet been received from MLA Narendra Mehta or the corporators concerned, so their side will also be important. The real position will become clear only after an inquiry.