'Rules different for me,' says UP MLA slapped with 7 cases during lockdown

In an exclusive chat with ETV Bharat, former Uttar Pradesh MLA Bhagwan Sharma alias Guddu Pandit said that only he was being slapped with cases of lockdown violation, while other officials and leaders from the ruling party were being let off. Ever since the lockdown was imposed, at least seven cases have been slapped against the former legislator for violating lockdown rules and social distancing norms.

Bulandshahr (Uttar Pradesh): Former Uttar Pradesh MLA Bhagwan Sharma alias Guddu Pandit, who has been booked seven times for lockdown violation, said that he was the only one at the receiving end, as many others flouting rules were being let off.

In the latest case, police had filed an FIR against the two-time MLA from Debai (once each on SP and BSP ticket), after a video went viral on social media in which Sharma is seen cutting a cake placed on a car's bonnet with a giant axe in the presence of scores of his supporters.

Speaking exclusively to ETV Bharat, Sharma said that he was returning from Noida after performing his mother-in-law's final rites, when some youngsters - his supporters, stopped his car on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway in Noida, and requested him to cut a cake as it was the birthday of one of them.

Sharma said that he had no other option but to oblige, as he could not "run over them."

In the video, however, the former legislator was seen cutting the cake with an axe.

On the above, Sharma said that one of the youngsters had brought the axe and that is why he had to cut the cake with it. He added that the axe was a symbol of the fight against oppressors.

The ex MLA however admitted that the youngsters were in the wrong, and claimed that he had even tried to make them understand about the importance of social distancing and face masks.

Read:FIR against ex-MLA for tarnishing image of UP police

However, Sharma said that he was the only one at the receiving end of such cases, as many, including leaders and IAS officers, were being let off despite flouting lockdown rules.

Responding to allegations that he was violating rules just to gain publicity, Sharma said that he had helped thousands of people in the lockdown, by putting his own life in danger.

"Everyone knows that the rules for me, and the rules for them (ruling party) are different. It is clear that the one who fights for the truth will be slapped with cases," Sharma said.

Apart from this case in Noida, six more cases have been filed against Sharma over the course of the lockdown for violation of social distancing norms, and for crowding by "luring" migrant labourers with the promise of food and water.

Read:Bulandshahr Police's notice to ex MLA for 'feeding migrants' kicks off storm