New Delhi: Speaking at an event organised to distribute wheelchairs and other assistive devices to persons with disabilities, BJP leader Babul Supriyo threatened a man – who apparently had distracted him – that he would break one of his legs and hand him a crutch.
The incident, which was captured on camera, took place on Tuesday in West Bengal’s Asansol, the Indian Express reported. Supriyo represents the Asansol constituency in Lok Sabha.
The singer-turned-politician reportedly lost in cool while felicitating an official at a Samajik Adhikarita Shivir event. “What happened to you? Any problem? I can break one of your legs and can give you a crutch,” the BJP leader can be heard saying after the man in question distracted him with his constant fidgeting.
The minister, however, did not stop there.
According to NDTV, Supriyo went on to tell his security personnel to break the man’s leg and hand him a crutch if he dared to move again. He then asked the audience to give the man a round of applause.
The video has been widely shared on social media and has drawn criticism from all corners. “This is BJP culture! Drunk on power,” activist and lawyer Prashant Bhushan tweeted after Supriyo’s video surfaced.
The BJP MLA, however, is not new to controversy. According to a Hindustan Times report, during a visit to Asansol in March after communal clashes following Ram Navami celebrations in the state, Supriyo had threatened to “skin” some people “alive” for shouting slogans against him. An FIR was subsequently filed against the Union minister for allegedly preventing the police from performing their duty in Asansol.
(With agency inputs)