BJP MP Pragya Thakur claims party MLA running illegal liquor shop, demands his removal

Bhopal: BJP Lok Sabha MP from Bhopal Pragya Singh Thakur has accused her party legislator Sudesh Rai was running a liquor shop illegally in Madhya Pradesh's Sehore district and expressed concern over the safety of women and girls.

She has also demanded Rai's removal from the MLA's post. When contacted, Rai told media persons to themselves inquire into Thakur's allegations.

Thakur, who has been denied renomination from Bhopal for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, on Monday night said she was on a visit to areas under her constituency to launch development works when some girls came to her at Khajuria Kala and complained a liquor outlet was being run in front of their school.

"The girls were sad and teary-eyed, they complained that people gather at the liquor shop, make comments on them. They told me they are not safe and anything can happen to them. Some women said people enter their houses after consuming liquor," the BJP leader added.

She claimed a police sub-inspector who was present there said he was not aware of it. "The illegal liquor outlet found in Khajuria Kala Bangla is run by Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Sudesh Rai, as people and officials told me. I am feeling ashamed. I demand from the party that a person like him, who is involved in such misdeed, should be sacked from the post," Thakur said.

The BJP MP also said that she has told the authorities to suspend officials concerned of the excise department. She claimed it was an illegal liquor shop as the licence cannot be given for such an establishment in front of a school.

It was an 'adarsh gram' (model village) of the member of Parliament last year and a liquor shop could not be set up there, she explained.

"There was a similar complaint about one year back, and then the district collector told me the shop was closed. But when I went there this time, the girls again complained. This means the police and excise departments are hand-in-glove," she claimed.

Thakur said she along with the girls broke into the shop and found a huge quantity of liquor there and threw some of it. A video of the same was also shot.

The BJP leader also claimed that police officials present at the scene tried to stop them from destroying the liquor.

"I don't hold a grudge against Rai. If he is involved in illegal activities, it's a big crime. If any anti-social element after consuming liquor does something to a girl, then I think it will be my responsibility," Thakur said.

She said that persons involved in misdeeds should never be forgiven and this can't be "adarsh" (ideal) for the BJP. "I have never tolerated such things and will never do," Thakur said.

When contacted, Rai told PTI that the media should itself find out the truth. "You take information from the district collector who runs the liquor shop. I don't want to make a comment as she is a sadhvi, though I have things to say. She can make any allegation...you (the media) should probe, I can lie," Rai said.

Meanwhile, videos showing Thakur breaking the lock of a room surfaced on social media. In a video, the Lok Sabha member is first seen holding a stone in her hand threatening to break the lock of the room as girls and people gathered around.

A policeman is seen urging her not to break the lock. Later, the BJP MP is seen hitting the room with a hammer as the policeman continues to urge her with folded hands not to do this.

Amid loud cheers, Thakur is seen opening the door. The video shows a large number of liquor bottles stored in the room. Later, some people throw away the liquor after opening the bottles in Thakur's presence.

Thakur is heard saying that nobody should threaten the girls accompanying her. An official is heard saying that he will forward the concerns of the MP to his seniors, but the BJP leader got angry and told the officials to produce the papers related to permission of the liquor shop located in front of the school.

Thakur is heard claiming that this liquor shop is being run without a licence and it was illegal to operate such outlets in front of schools.