Daijiworld Media Network – Bhopal
Bhopal, Aug 29: Three days after sparking outrage by nearly assaulting Bhind Collector Sanjeev Srivastava, BJP MLA Narendra Singh Kushwaha was summoned to Bhopal and sternly warned by the party leadership.
On Friday, following instructions from state BJP president Hemant Khandelwal, Kushwaha appeared at the residence of organization general secretary Hitanand Sharma, where the matter was reviewed in the presence of state in-charge Dr Mahendra Singh. Sources said the leadership took a “serious view” of his conduct and cautioned him that such behaviour was against party discipline and would not be tolerated.
The controversy began on Wednesday when Kushwaha stormed into the Collector’s official residence with farmers protesting fertilizer shortages. Tempers rose after the Collector refused to allow illegal sand mining, asking the MLA to “stay within his limits.”
Witnesses alleged that Kushwaha abused the officer and even clenched his fist to strike him, before being restrained by the Collector’s bodyguard. His supporters later staged a dharna outside the bungalow, shouting slogans and accusing the Collector of corruption. The standoff ended only after the Chief Minister’s Office intervened.
The Madhya Pradesh IAS Officers’ Association condemned the incident as “humiliating and dangerous,” while the MP Third Class Employees’ Union expressed solidarity, warning that officials could not work under constant fear.
The BJP has been facing embarrassment over repeated instances of unruly behaviour by its legislators. Last month, MLAs Golu Shukla and Pradeep Agarwal were pulled up over hooliganism involving their sons, while former MLA KP Tripathi was reprimanded for misbehaving with a woman police officer.
While Kushwaha continues to demand the removal of Collector Srivastava, the stern warning issued on Friday highlights the BJP’s attempt to draw a firm line and enforce discipline within its ranks. The episode has now escalated into both a political and administrative flashpoint in Madhya Pradesh.