Rajasthan BJP MLA suspended for threatening health official

Jaipur, December 19

BJP on Friday suspended its Rajasthan MLA Prahalad Gunjal, who was allegedly caught on tape threatening and abusing a health official over the transfer of a male nurse.

In the eye of a storm for his alleged threats to Kota district CMHO R N Yadav, Gunjal expressed regret even as the medical officer applied for voluntary retirement protesting against “mental harassment” over the issue.

“As per the direction of party President Amit Shah, Kota (North) MLA Prahalad Gunjal is suspended with immidiate effect,” BJP said in a statement.

In a note sent to the state BJP president Ashok Parnami and the Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Gunjal tried to control damage by expressing regret and and claiming it was an “emotional outburst”.

“I used some words which were not to be used. If my words have hurt anyone, or caused agony to anyone, then I regret it,” Gunjal said.

“I have sent the letter of apology to the state party president, state chief minister and also the doctors’ unions and sought apology for my words and language,” he told PTI.

Parnami said that the state unit had received the MLA’s explanation last night and forwarded it to the party’s parliamentary board which after reviewing the entire episode took the decision to suspend him.

Parnami said the matter will now be referred to the disciplinary committee of the party which will decide the future course of action.

Meanwhile, the CMHO, R N Yadav told PTI that he had applied for his voluntary retirement with conditions.

“I have applied for VR citing that I cannot work under tension and forceful situation like this,” he told PTI.

“I want an assurance from the government to be allowed to work in a peaceful and congenial atmosphere, besides personal security,” he said.

He also said that the party action against Gunjal would boost the morale of the government employees. However, he said that his demand was for legal action against the MLA.

“MLA’s suspension from BJP is the decision of the party and was not demand. I only want legal action against him,” Yadav told PTI.

The BJP MLA from Kota (North) had allegedly threatened the CMHO with dire consequences for not issuing transfer orders to the kin of a party worker, the audio clipping of which had gone viral on WhatsApp triggering a controversy.

Government doctors, meanwhile, boycotted work for two hours in Rajasthan demanding the arrest of Gunjal.

“All the in-service doctors across the state boycotted work from 9 am to 11 am against the MLA’s behaviour and to demand his arrest for threatening and abusing CMHO,” Dr Nasreen Bharti, a representative of government doctors, said.

Kota Police had on Thursday registered an FIR against Gunjal yesterday under various sections of IPC.

Ahead of the 2008 Assembly polls, he had been expelled from the party, but was taken back before the 2013 elections.

 PTI