Happened in a Moment of Anger: BJP MLA Parag Shah on Slapping Auto Driver
The MLA acknowledged that the driver should not have been assaulted, but alleged that videos circulating on social media showing the man being beaten by several people were morphed
Mumbai: BJP MLA Parag Shah on Sunday admitted to slapping an auto-rickshaw driver, saying the incident occurred “in a moment of anger” after the driver allegedly drove recklessly and ignored repeated warnings.
Speaking to ANI during a protest against encroachment in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area, Shah claimed the auto-rickshaw was coming from the wrong side at a very high speed. “The speed he was going at was like someone driving a racing car on an expressway. We signalled him to stop, but he wasn’t ready to listen,” he said.
Shah added that a woman passenger in the rickshaw had also complained about the driver’s rash driving, saying she had repeatedly asked him to slow down but was ignored.
The MLA acknowledged that the driver should not have been assaulted, but alleged that videos circulating on social media showing the man being beaten by several people were morphed. He said the driver was ultimately issued a challan and let off with a warning.
“Yes, he shouldn’t have been beaten. In a moment of anger, I also hit him. A penalty was imposed against him,” Shah said, adding that the driver showed no remorse for his actions.
Shah also highlighted the issue of encroachment in Ghatkopar, claiming that hawkers, scooter riders and auto-rickshaw drivers have become a major nuisance in recent months, making life difficult for local residents.
“Senior citizens can’t go out in the evenings, children are afraid to cross the road. This kind of encroachment, in our language, we call a kind of jihad,” he said.
The BJP legislator said he was briefing shopkeepers who had encroached onto roads at the time of the incident and reiterated his commitment to removing encroachments. “Wrong-doers will be taught a lesson, by hook or by crook,” he asserted.
Shah urged citizens to follow the law and support the government, adding that protests against encroachment would continue in Ghatkopar to ensure ease of movement for locals.
Referring to governance under the BJP-led state and central governments, Shah said people have appreciated the work of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also expressed confidence that the BJP would win the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, citing the party’s performance in the state.
