The alleged manhandling of Bihar Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD) Minister Suresh Sharma and his security personnel by a hotel staff at Tarapith in West Bengal took a fresh turn on Tuesday with a complaint and a counter-complaint being lodged.
The hotel staff has alleged that Sharma, a BJP MLA from Muzaffarpur, along with his associates assaulted and threatened to kill him over a reservation refund. The police complaint by the hotel staff mentions that the people in the entourage of the minister were under the influence of alcohol.
"They attacked me with gun and lathi, threatened to shut the hotel… they were fully drunk," says the complaint lodged by Pranab Manna, a front office manager of the hotel.
With Bihar's total prohibition policy, all legislators and government employees have taken a pledge not to consume liquor even outside the state. The episode could therefore spell doom for Sharma.
According to Sharma's secretary Sanjeev Kumar, "The minister was seeking a refund of the booking amount as he did not want to stay at the hotel. But the hotel staff abused them." The hotel staff said that the booking had been done online, so the refund could be received digitally, not in cash.
The Opposition cornered the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government, demanding a probe into the matter as well as a medical test of the accused. "West Bengal police should conduct a medical examination of the Bihar minister and his supporters. We request the WB CM to investigate the truth," said Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, leader of Opposition in Bihar legislative assembly.
A video that has gone viral shows the minister's men trying to beat up the hotel staff at the reception counter.
Tejashwi said the "BJP goons were defaming Bihar." "They beat the hotel staff. It only shows their 'goondagardi'. Will CM Nitish's 'antar-atma' seek his resignation?" he tweeted.
Tarapith is a temple town in Bengal famous for the temple of goddess Tara, which Sharma was visiting after a trip to Deoghar in Jharkhand a few days ago.
GOONS, SAYS OPPN
- Oppn leader Tejashwi Yadav said ‘BJP goons were defaming Bihar’.
- “They beat the hotel staff. It only shows their ‘goondagardi’. Will CM Nitish’s ‘antar-atma’ seek his resignation?” Tejashwi tweeted.
- A video showing the minister’s men trying to beat up the hotel staff at the reception counter has gone viral
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