Congress MLA Ram Dayal Uike has courted controversy by being recorded on camera urging voters to beat up BJP workers using empty liquor bottles when they come seeking for votes, as reported by DNA. Uike is an MLA from the Korba seat in the state.
The video which has since then gone viral on social media was tweeted out by ANI:
#WATCH Contractors sell alcohol, but why is govt (Chhattisgarh) selling it? They sell a Rs 600 bottle for Rs 1000. They’ll distribute this money during elections & when they do so you must beat them with the bottles then: Congress MLA Ramdayal Uike (13 May) #Chhattisgarhpic.twitter.com/bvfLOt3CWi
— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2018
In the video, the MLA is heard attacking the Chhattisgarh government for supposedly deciding to sell alcohol. He further alleged that the government was also overcharging its liquor customers by selling a bottle worth Rs 600 for Rs 1000.
Following this, he floated a conspiracy theory that, the extra money earned via deceit, would then be distributed among the voters during election time. He thus demanded that the BJP volunteers and leaders be beaten up using empty liquor bottles when they come to canvass for votes.
A Patrika report has claimed that Uike made this statement at a Sankalp Shivir in Bhaisma, while questioning the supposed dire need for the government to sell liquor. With regards to the call for the assault, the report quotes Uike as also asking the audience to keep two feet tall sticks at their disposal.
Incidentally, the report also claims that such a statement by Uike was made in presence of senior state Congress leaders like, party’s Chhattisgarh in-charge PL Punia and state election committee’s president Charandas Mahant.
The BJP in response to this “call for violence” has issued a statement that the Congress MLA is finding it difficult to come to terms with the BJP’s Vikas Yatra in the state.
