Kota: Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday suspended its MLA from Kota, Prahlad Gunjal, after he allegedly threatened a Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) for transfer of a male nurse. An audio clip of their conversation was circulating on WhatsApp.
Earlier, Police registered a first information report (FIR) on Thursday evening against MLA Phralad Gunjal under various sections of IPC for intimidating and threatening the officer over phone.
He allegedly threatened Kota district CMHO Dr RN Yadav with dire consequences for not issuing transfer orders to the relative of a party worker.
However, when contacted, Gunjal denied that he had used threats with Yadav although he did admit that he had called the CMHO in connection with the transfer.
“I did call the CMHO and ask him for the transfer of a male nurse, who is the brother-in-law of a party worker. But I did not threaten or intimidate him. But, yes, I scolded him as I was very angry,” Gunjal said.
He added that he had asked for the transfer on four occasions but the CMHO had not complied. Later, Yadav reached Dadabari police station and lodged a case against the MLA.
When contacted, Superintend of Police (SP), Kota city Amandeep Singh Kapoor said, “We will first look into the copy of FIR and since the accused is a sitting MLA, report will be sent to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Criminal Bureau (CB), Jaipur for further action.”
The CMHO is reported to have sent his resignation from the post to Deputy Director, medical and health, Kota. Yadav did not respond to repeated calls of the reporter.
The Medical association called a symbolic two hour strike to support the CMHO. The CMHO has also written a complaint to the Health Minister saying that he does not want to work any further due to depression caused by the MLA’s behaviour.
Yadav on Thursday said he reported the matter on Wednesday night to police following which security has been provided to him at his residence and office.
Yadav said that the male nurse whose transfer was being sought is facing a departmental inquiry in the matter of embezzlement of 2,000 antibiotic tablets. The CMHO claimed that although he had told Gunjal about the inquiry against the nurse, the BJP leader was adamant that the transfer be given.
Asked about audio clip of his conversation with Yadav, Gunjal alleged that it was part of a conspiracy against him. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot termed the BJP MLA Gunjal’s behaviour as a height of indecency saying it should be deplored at every level.
Since the BJP got overwhelming majority in previous Assembly and Lok Sabha polls, its representatives were showing very egoistic and arrogant behaviour with public, Gehlot remarked in a statement.
Hence the moral of entire government machinery was degraded, employees got frustrated, and many IAS officers have left the state and took assignments at Centre (Delhi), he added.
(With inputs from PTI)