Cong MLA does headstand to protest FIR

In a unique protest, opposition Congress MLA from Sheopur in Madhya Pradesh, Babu Jandel, performed ‘shirshasana’ (headstand) in the State Assembly premises on Friday, alleging that the BJP state government has registered 15 false FIRs against him for raising issues concerning farmers’ distress and people’s grievances.

Jandel alleged that three new FIRs had been registered against him in just the past month.

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Jandel performed a headstand in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue outside the main entrance.

His main allegation was that an FIR was registered against him on 15 February after he fired a celebratory shot in the air during a Shiv baraat procession on the occasion of Mahashivratri. He argued that it was just a celebratory fire and that he had not used an AK-47, but only a locally made single-shot gun.

He demanded that the FIR be withdrawn and asserted that he would continue to protest as a satyagraha until the FIR was cancelled.

Earlier, during the Zero Hour of the ongoing budget session, Congress MLAs Pankaj Upadhyay and party whip Sohan Valmiki also raised Jandel’s issue.

However, after the Speaker said the matter would be forwarded to the concerned department, dissatisfied Congress legislators staged a walkout.

Following the walkout, Jandel performed the headstand in protest.