‘BJP man’ immolates self over corruption
BJP denies deceased was a party worker

A social activist and a BJP worker immolated himself near Santram Tower here in Nadiad on Tuesday morning in protest against the rampant corruption and illegal constructions prevalent in the Nadiad municipality.

Thirty-five-year-old activist Bharat Rao was immediately rushed to the Nadiad Civil Hospital following the incident. He was later shifted to the Civil Hospital at Ahmedabad where he succumbed to the burn injuries at around 8.30 am on Wednesday. He had received 84 per cent second and third degree burns.

Rao, an Engineer, had gone on a "fast until death" for 45 days in 1998 in protest against the illegal constructions and for not initiating any steps to recruit taluka development officer. He had also filed a petition at the high court demanding a stay in this regard.

His brothers Mahesh Rao and Chirag Rao said, "Rao was then promised proper redressal to his grievances. However, his promise was not fulfilled. In January, he had threatened to immolate himself in public in August, if the illegal constructions were not stopped." They added that on August 4, he had sent letters to Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, Minister of state for home Haren Pandya, the Nadiad deputy superintendent of police and the district collector claiming that if the municipality does not put a ban on an illegal construction at Petlad Road in Nadiad, he would immolate himself on the Independence Day.

They said, "Our brother was a BJP worker, but no one from the BJP came to see him. He was admitted in the hospital for one whole day and was fully conscious but no one from the party inquired about him. It seems that he has been ignored by the administration and the party." However, the state BJP has denied that the deceased was associated with the party in any manner.

Spokesman of state BJP Bharat Pandya said that the party had condemned corruption at every stage, "but there are other ways to put a point across in a democratic set up."

He said that the state government has appointed a one-member commission to probe into the matter and the commission will submit its report within one month.

BJP MLA from Nadiad Pankaj Desai also denied that he was a BJP worker. He said, "He had threatened to commit suicide if the illegal construction was allowed by the municipality. On the said day there was tight police bandobast at the concerned place where he was to self-immolate, but he set himself on fire while riding on his scooter and the police could not do anything."

In view of the threat of self-immolation, police had been deployed at the Santram Tower where a nagarpalika function was to be held. Rao came to the spot riding a scooter but he was already on fire. He had doused himself with kerosene and set himself on fire a few metres away from Santram Tower.

His brother Mahesh said that the movement against corruption will continue and he will see that his brother’s death does not go waste. "The administration has a habit of covering up things, but I will also self-immolate if the administration still fails to fulfill its promise."

The local Congress has called for a "Nadiad Bandh" on Thursday in this regard. Rao’s funeral will take place on Thursday at Nadiad.

Republished from Asian Age