Rajasthan: BJP MLA climbs atop water tank to protest 'cops' inaction'

KOTA: It seems it is not only university students contesting elections for student unions who climb atop water tanks during campaigns, hoping to add zing to their appeal. A BJP legislator from Bundi district did a similar act on Sunday noon in what she and her party colleagues atop the water tank said was a "protest against police inaction" over incidents of burglary and theft in the area.
Chandra Kanta Meghwal, the MLA from Keshoraipatan, and several local BJP leaders scaled the steps of the water tank in Kapren town of the district at about 1:30pm and spent several hours there. "More than 15 incidents of burglary and theft have occurred and cash and valuables worth Rs 25-30 lakh have been looted at separate places in Kapren in the last 15 days. But police failed to take action in all the incidents," said the MLA to TOI on phone from atop the water tank on Sunday evening.
Meghwal said she and some local traders had submitted a memorandum to the district authorities with the warning of a protest a week ago, but no assurance was given or action was taken for the arrest of the accused. "We also warned the administration of our step of climbing atop the water tank in protest this morning. When they did not respond, we climbed atop this water tank," said Meghwal, who was accompanied by BJP's Bundi district president Chittarmal and some councillors.
ADM Mukesh Choudhary and ASP Kishori Lal rushed to the spot and made efforts to persuade the MLA and other BJP leaders to climb down. The two officials assured the MLA of action in the matters she had raised, but she remained adamant. “We (police) are leaving no stone unturned to solve incidents of burglary and theft. We are trying our best to trace the accused, but they (MLA) are not ready to be convinced and assured,” said Bundi ASP Kishori Lal.