Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A heated exchange between BJP MLA Chhotelal Verma and villagers broke out in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra over a badly damaged road in a local village. Videos of the heated exchange soon went viral on social media, triggering a political controversy, as the state gears up for the Assembly election in 2027.
The confrontation took place on Wednesday in Agra’s Fatehabad Assembly constituency when Verma went to offer condolences to the family of a resident, Sahi Ram, who had recently died after an illness.
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During the visit, some villagers, along with family members, raised concerns about the poor condition of a road. They said that the road has been in poor condition for years, and it becomes difficult for villagers to use it during the monsoon due to waterlogging and mud.
What started as a normal discussion soon turned into a heated exchange, with Verma appearing to lose his temper. In the viral video, the MLA is heard telling a villager, “Why are you showing your eyes You’ve become too arrogant… If you say too much, I will set you right and send you to jail.”
He also lashed out at a woman named Rupali, alleging that she had provoked the villager he was arguing with.
Later, in an interview with Aaj Tak, India Today’s sister organisation, the villager said that he had raised the concern multiple times, flagging the poor condition of the road and sent several letters to the MLA seeking a solution. However, as the MLA did not pay much heed, he said he raised the issue once again when Verma visited the village, which resulted in the argument.
During the argument, the MLA also allegedly threatened another woman from Sahi Ram’s family with police action. Speaking to Aaj Tak, she said, “I told him that my father passed away a few days back. Have you come here to offer condolences or threaten me with police action?”
THE ROAD AT THE CENTRE OF THE ROW
When the Aaj Tak team went to the village to inspect the condition of the road, it found the stretch covered at several places with mud and stagnant dirty water. Elderly people, children, women and other residents have to use the same stretch for their daily commute.
Villagers said the situation worsens after every spell of rain, making it difficult to walk through the area. They said people have slipped and suffered injuries while using the road.
The biggest problem, according to residents, arises during medical emergencies. They alleged that ambulances are unable to reach the village due to the poor condition of the road. As a result, patients sometimes have to be carried for nearly half a kilometre through the muddy stretch before they can reach a vehicle.
Sahi Ram’s daughter also made a similar claim, saying her father had to be carried on a cot because of the poor condition of the road.
Residents said they have been demanding construction of the approach road for several years and have approached the MLA and government officials multiple times.
According to them, despite repeatedly raising the issue during Verma’s current term, no permanent solution has been found.
MLA DEFENDS HIMSELF
Verma has defended himself over the viral video. The BJP MLA said he had gone to the village to offer condolences and claimed that he had undertaken construction of a large number of approach roads in his constituency.
According to Verma, some people present at the spot misbehaved with him and also used abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The MLA said he reacted following the alleged provocation and admitted that he too used some harsh words during the exchange.
The villagers, however, maintain that they had raised a basic civic issue and wanted an answer about the road that has affected their daily lives for years.
WHO IS CHHOTELAL VERMA?
Verma has a long political career in Fatehabad. He first became an MLA from the constituency on a BJP ticket in 2002.
In 2007, he contested the election on a Samajwadi Party ticket but lost. He returned to the Assembly in 2012 on a Bahujan Samaj Party ticket and also served as a minister of state with an independent charge in the Mayawati government.
In 2022, Verma was elected from Fatehabad again on a BJP ticket.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
