Gandhinagar, April 27 (IANS) Allegations against AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava intensified after an altercation at a factory site in Gujarat’s Bharuch district, with BJP MP Dhaval Patel accusing the legislator of assaulting members of a tribal victim’s family.

Patel claimed that multiple serious cases have been registered against the MLA and that he is currently out on conditional bail.

“He has violated court conditions, and we will make every effort to send him back to jail,” Patel said.

The development follows a fire at a chemical unit in the Jhagadia GIDC industrial estate on April 23, in which 16 workers were injured. Two later died during treatment, including Rakesh Vasava.

A day after the death, Rakesh Vasava’s cousin, Roshan Vasava, reached the factory premises to discuss compensation for the bereaved family.

At the same time, Chaitar Vasava arrived with supporters and relatives of injured workers, demanding higher compensation.

A video circulating widely shows an argument between the MLA and Roshan Vasava near the factory gate escalating into both men slapping each other in the presence of a police officer before others intervened.

Roshan Vasava alleged that the MLA had provoked tensions.

“Chaitar Vasava came here and started inciting people. I know that he came here to extract money, not to support our community. I am not associated with any political party. I came here for the sake of my family,” he said.

He added that he had neither been harassed by police nor instructed to react in any manner.

“Chaitar Vasava will be solely responsible if the law and order situation worsens here,” he said.

Responding to the allegations, the MLA said he had gone to the site after being approached by victims’ families seeking justice.

“The blaze occurred due to negligence by the company. Of the 16 injured workers, two have died. Several others have suffered severe burns, with some having up to 80 per cent injuries,” he said.

He alleged that the company management had failed to engage with the victims’ families.

“The families informed me that their young sons had died in the incident. We went to the company gate and asked the police officials present to arrange talks with the management to ensure justice,” he said.

The MLA also attributed the altercation to the presence of outsiders.

“Some people who had no connection to the victim’s families were brought there. They started arguing with us. Later, a person picked up a fight with me in the presence of police officials,” he said.

He added that the company had offered Rs 15 lakh compensation to the families of the deceased workers but had not agreed to provide financial assistance to injured workers.

“The families of the deceased told me that they are not satisfied with the compensation offer. Initially, the company didn’t even open the gate for us when we reached here. When we went inside to discuss, a person got into a fight with me,” he said.

In his response, Patel said the government and police were already taking action following the fire and that discussions over compensation were under way when the MLA intervened.

“It is completely inappropriate. A tragic incident took place in the GIDC area of Bharuch three to four days ago, in which two people lost their lives and 12 to 13 people were injured. Our government is taking the strictest possible action, and the police are also taking strict action,” he said.

He alleged that the MLA had attempted to insert himself into the process. “He said that if mediation is to be done, it must be done through him and only with his involvement,” Patel said.

“When the tribal families refused his offer, he became frustrated and assaulted youths of the tribal community and members of the deceased families, beat them severely, engaged in violence and issued threats. This shows how far he can go in the name of tribals,” he added.

Patel said he had spoken with the local Superintendent of Police, the administration and the affected families, and would meet them personally.

“Today, I am speaking not as an MP but as a son of the tribal community. We stand with the victim families and will ensure they get full justice,” he said.

He also warned against a repeat of such incidents. “If such an incident happens again, our government and the tribal community will take strict action,” he said, adding that the MLA’s conduct showed “how far he can go for politics”.

–IANS

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