Vadodara: Mahisagar District Collector Neha Kumari has been dragged into controversy by Congress Party MLA Jignesh, who represents the Vadgam (Scheduled Caste reserved) constituency in North Gujarat. MLA Jignesh has alleged that Neha Kumari misbehaved with a Scheduled Caste (SC) applicant, Vijay Parmar, during a Taluka-level Swagat program. However, the District Collector has stated that this is merely a political stunt by the MLA, adding that both the applicant and his brother have been booked in the past over serious offenses.

In her press conference, District Collector Neha Kumari said, “Vijay Parmar and his brother Pankaj Parmar have a history of being booked for offenses like the kidnapping of a 16-year-old minor girl, rape, extortion, making videos of women and raping them, issuing threats, and assault. The applicant frequently visits various offices with his complaints and has been given hearings. On October 23rd, Vijay Parmar pressured district officials to file a complaint against police staff. He was informed that the district administration does not have the authority to file a complaint and that he should meet with the district police chief for this matter. Nevertheless, he continued to pressure officials to file a complaint and behaved inappropriately, even saying, ‘Hu badha ne joi laish’ (I will see you all). He also threatened, saying, ‘Neha Kumari Dubey, you are a Brahmin, and I will show you what Section 4 of the Atrocity Act means. I am an advocate and a journalist. I have many friends who are journalists and advocates. I will place them in front of your office. You will get to know who I am.'”

Neha Kumari further stated, “Although my name is only recorded as Neha Kumari, my surname ‘Dubey’ is being used deliberately by the MLA to highlight my caste in an attempt to create social division. I do not believe in casteism. My caste is not recorded on any official documents. However, the MLA repeatedly mentions my surname to encourage caste-based division. Vijay Parmar’s attempts to blackmail government staffers are improper.”

It’s worth noting that Congress MLA Jignesh had, in the recent past, also agitated against an IPS officer, Raj Kumar Pandian, for Pandian’s alleged misbehavior. However, Pandian had strongly denied any such misconduct. DeshGujarat