On the 4th of July, 2023, an incident of such shocking nature occurred that it echoed throughout the nation, leaving a trail of outrage and disbelief in its wake. A video began circulating on the internet, showcasing a man urinating on a tribal laborer in the district of Sidhi, located in Madhya Pradesh, India. The man at the center of this controversy was identified as Parvesh Shukla, a figure associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This incident has since ignited a political firestorm, with the public demanding justice for the victim and accountability from those involved.
The Victim Was Pressured to Say the Video Was Fake
In a surprising turn of events, it was discovered that the victim was allegedly pressured into signing a document that said the viral video was made up. Anjulata Patel, Additional Superintendent of Police, said that the victim agreed that the incident happened in 2020, just like Pravesh Shukla had said. But when the video started spreading on social media this week, the victim was approached by Shukla’s family. Feeling their pressure, he signed a document on July 3 saying the video was made up, even though the video was real.
Shukla’s illegal encroachments bulldozed
In a significant development following the incident, the state administration of Madhya Pradesh took decisive action against Shukla. On Wednesday, his illegal encroachments in the district were bulldozed, marking a major crackdown on the accused. This action was taken after Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati demanded the demolition of Shukla’s properties. The accused was arrested on the same day after Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took cognizance of the incident and ordered Shukla’s arrest under the stringent National Security Act (NSA). The Chief Minister was quoted saying, “We will not spare him at any cost.”
Who is Parvesh Shulka?
Parvesh Shukla is not just an ordinary citizen but a politician affiliated with the BJP. He is known to be a close associate of BJP MLA Kedarnath Shukla. Evidence of his political ties can be found on his Facebook profile, which openly declares his affiliation with the BJP. His BJP membership I-card further attests to his association with the party. Moreover, his name appears on the list of Sidhi candidates for the BJP Yuva Morcha. Despite these clear indications, MLA Kedarnath Shukla has denied any connection with Parvesh, leading to a whirlwind of conflicting narratives.
The viral video showed him peeing on a tribal man
The video that went viral paints a disturbing picture. It shows Shukla, cigarette in hand, urinating on the face, hair, and neck of a man seated on the ground. The victim of this appalling act is Dasmat Ravat, a 36-year-old tribal man hailing from the village of Karaundi. The incident occurred in Kubri village, and the reasons behind Shukla’s repugnant behavior remain in mystery. Following the public exposure of the video, Ravat expressed his fear and claimed that he was forced to sign an affidavit stating that the video was a fabrication and that Shukla had not committed any such acts against him.
Ties with any political party?
The incident has had significant political repercussions. Leaders from the Congress party shared an image of Shukla in the company of BJP leaders, suggesting that the accused was indeed associated with the BJP. In a counter-move, Ashish Agarwal, the BJP media in-charge, tweeted that Shukla has no connection with the BJP and called for stringent action against him. This statement has added to the confusion, as Shukla’s father, Ramakant, has asserted that his son has been associated with the BJP for several years and has represented the MLA.
Shukla denied the video – It’s an edited video
In the aftermath of the incident, Shukla was arrested and charged under the stringent National Security Act, following directives from Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The Chief Minister expressed his condemnation of the incident and assured that the accused would face the harshest punishment. He emphasized that an accused person’s religion, caste, or party affiliation does not absolve them of their crimes. The incident has been universally denounced as a blot on humanity, with MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra promising decisive action if there is any encroachment by the accused.
According to Anjulata Patle, Additional SP, Sidhi, “The accused (Pravesh Shukla) was arrested at around 2 am (today). He is currently being interrogated.” The police have invoked the stringent NSA against the accused following directions from Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan. As per NDTV, a complaint was lodged at the Bahri police station on Tuesday, and Pravesh has been charged with multiple sections including NSA, sections 294, 504, and section 3(1)(r)(s) of the SC/ST Act.
While addressing the media in Bhopal, CM Chouhan said, “I have instructed to give the accused the strictest punishment. It should be a moral lesson for everyone. We won’t spare him. An accused has no religion, caste or party. Accused is an accused.” “The incident is reprehensible and a shame on humanity. Bulldozer action will be carried out if there is an encroachment (by the accused),” says MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra.
In a tweet, Congress spokesperson Abbas Hafeez said, “Yes, is this your tribal love? What to call this Jungle Raj and why the BJP leader was not arrested? The name of the accused is being told as Pravesh Shukla, who is the representative of the BJP MLA. The MLA is Kedar Nath Shukla. There are photographs of the accused urinating on the tribal youth along with veteran BJP leaders.”
As the nation watches and waits for justice to be delivered, this incident serves as a grim reminder of the persistent issues of caste discrimination and power imbalance that continue to mar Indian society.
