Man warns Scindia with vote denial over no road, Minister's response is viral

Residents in Madhya Pradesh stopped Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia's convoy over a long-pending road, carrying placards and raising the slogan "Road nahi to vote nahi" (No road, no vote).

In Short

• Residents in Guna stop Jyotiraditya Scindia's convoy demanding road
• Protesters warn of not voting if the road is not constructed
• Scindia rebukes the warning, asking residents to make requests politely

A tense exchange unfolded in Madhya Pradesh's Guna, the Parliamentary constituency of Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, when residents stopped his convoy to demand a long-pending road, with one resident warning that the lack of a road could cost the votes.

Visibly stern, Scindia pushed back against the manner of the warning, telling the residents to make a request instead and leaving the responsibility of getting the work done to him.

The residents in Guna were protesting over the condition and construction of a road. Carrying placards and raising the slogan “Road nahi to vote nahi” (No road, no vote), the protesters stopped Scindia’s convoy as he was travelling to a village.

In a video of the confrontation that is now viral, a resident can be heard telling Scindia, “This is a request that this road should be laid this time. Otherwise, when you come at the time of voting, we will not vote at all. This entire colony”

Scindia responded sharply, telling the resident, “Do not ever use this language with me. Understood? I am talking to everyone. You come and make a request. It is my responsibility to get the work done. Okay?”

The exchange between Scindia and the residents has since spread widely on social media, drawing attention to the confrontation over the road demand.

The confrontation was followed by an announcement on the road project.

Around half an hour after the video went viral, Scindia announced at a public programme that Rs 3 crore would be sanctioned for road construction. The amount was approved from the MLA’s fund, from the quota of Guna MLA Pannalal Shakya.

Scindia also directed the district collector to ensure that the road construction work is taken up after the monsoon.

The road demand comes amid complaints from residents about the Guna municipality’s alleged indifference to basic civic amenities.

- Ends
With inputs from Vikas Dixit.