We put an end to this culture five years ago, says Khattar over axe-wielding viral video

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, September 11

After a viral video that showed him supposedly threatening a Bharatiya Janata Party worker with an axe drew mockery and criticism, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar defended himself on Wednesday saying his party "had put an end to such culture" when it came to power five years ago.

At a press conference he was addressing earlier in the day, Khattar said: “Today if somebody, that too my own party worker, tries to place silver or a golden crown to my head, I’ll get angry. I can’t tolerate it. We ended this culture after coming to power five years ago. He was an old party worker and didn’t feel bad”.   

The incident he was referring is believed to have happened sometime last week, as Khattar was wrapping up his ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’. A video shows Khattar addressing the crowd with an axe held aloft when a party worker standing behind him tries to place a silver paper crown on his head. Khattar turns to him angrily with his axe still aloft, and could be heard telling the man: "Gardan kaat doonga teree (I will chop your head off)".

The party worker then apologetically folds his hands, and Khattar turns back to finish his address.

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala posted the video on Twitter on Wednesday morning with the words: “Gussa aur ahenkar sehat ke liye hanikarak hai. Khattar sahib ko gussa kyun aata hai? pharasa lekar apane hee neta ko kahate hain 'gardan kaat doonga teree'. Phir janata ke saath kya karenge? (Anger and ego are harmful to health. Why does Khattar Saheb get angry? Holding an axe, he tells his own party leader: 'I will chop your head off’. Then what will he do to the public)”.