Rajouri: Gupta picked stone to hit himself?
TNN Bureau. Updated: 3/20/2018 10:29:55 AM
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JAMMU : A senior BJP holding the status of Minister of State in present government, Kuldeep Raj Gupta stoked a controversy when he apparently picked up a stone during the demolishing of two shops owned by his sons during Sunday’s anti-encroachment drive in Rajouri town.
While from the look of it, it appeared that Gupta, Vice-Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir State Advisory Board for Development of Pahari Speaking People, had picked up the stone to attack the officials involved in the drive, he has claimed that he was to hit himself in wake of the huge loss due to the demolition.
Two shops owned by his sons were among 73 structures brought to dust during the anti-encroachment drive held yesterday and led by Tehsildar Rajouri and Chief Executive Officer of the Municipal Committee.
As soon as the news broke, Gupta reached the spot and started arguing with the officials. As the anti-encroachment drive continued, he picked up a stone, apparently, to attack them, but policemen accompanying the officials intervened.
As the picture and video of the incident went viral, Gupta was quick to clarify.
“I was so perturbed that I picked up a stone to hit my own head. However, people with vested interests projected it as if I wanted to throw stones at the police,’’ he told a newspaper.
He accused the administration of demolishing his sons’ shops in violation of law, saying that 408 sq ft of land on the roadside had been leased out to them by the administration during the Governor’s rule in 1990. A year later, they raised two khokhas on that land and in 1997, the revenue department entered its mutation in their favour, he added.
“I was at the residence of Deputy Commissioner. When I asked him about the demolition drive, he assured that my sons’ shops will not be touched,’’ Gupta said.