Fired up

Among the growing tribe of trigger-happy people in the country is an MLA from Gujarat...

Among the growing tribe of trigger-happy people in the country is an MLA from Gujarat, who has shot into infamy with his penchant for unfettered firing. Despite his knack for getting into tight spots—and on the wrong side of the law—-his political star continues to be on the ascent, so much so that he is confident of being renominated by his party, the BJP, for the Radhanpur seat in north Gujarat.

Shankar Chaudhary, the maverick BJP MLA from Radhanpur, is known to be close to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, which is perhaps why he has no compunctions in carrying his licensed revolver with him at all times—and using it.

Chaudhary was accused of opening fire on people of the minority community during the post-Godhra riots in 2002, killing two. The case is pending in the Gujarat High Court.

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In October last year, he was arrested for allegedly firing at the Radhanpur Congress president when he failed to withdraw a petition accusing him of siphoning off Rs 61 lakh of the 2002 earthquake relief funds and diverting them to his private PTC college. Two persons were injured in the incident.

While hearing the case, the Gujarat High Court Chief Justice had upbraided him and asked, “Mr MLA, if you break the law, then who will follow it? Henceforth, if this is repeated, then you will be in trouble.”

The admonishment had little effect. For in August last year, Chaudhary was allegedly involved in yet another incident, in which three people were killed and five injured in police firing at Radhanpur. The violence was unleashed when the local Muslim people objected to the demolition being carried out by local authorities of a part of the wall of a burial ground, despite the high court orders against the move. The Congress had alleged the involvement of the BJP MLA in the episode.

The most dubious incident, however, took place in April 2003, when he had sneaked into the Chief Minister’s Office with his licensed gun. While two security guards had been suspended for allowing Chaudhary in, the MLA had proclaimed with a flourish: “I have proved my point. The lapses in the security were exposed.”

If anything, his methods were certainly unconventional.

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“It is certain that my party is going to renominate me in the coming Assembly elections. My fight against anti-national and anti-social elements in my constituency will continue,” Chaudhary says now.

Perhaps, he should begin by reforming himself—or at least give it a shot.