Daijiworld Media Network – Satna

Satna, Oct 31: ‘Run for Unity’ event marking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary in Satna took an ugly turn on Friday afternoon when BJP MP Ganesh Singh slapped a municipal crane operator in full public view.

The incident occurred at Semriya Chowk, near the B.R. Ambedkar statue, when the MP was using a hydraulic crane to garland the statue. According to eyewitnesses, the crane suddenly jerked and stopped mid-air, leaving the MP stranded for several seconds. Once the machine descended, a furious Singh confronted the operator, Ganesh Kushwaha, and slapped him before stunned onlookers, including party workers, police personnel, and civic officials.

The act, caught on camera, quickly went viral on social media, drawing widespread criticism. In the video, the MP is seen stepping out of the hydraulic lift, shouting at the operator, and striking him across the face while officials stood by silently.

Witnesses said the jolt was caused by a minor mechanical glitch. “The operator was only doing his duty. The machine jerked due to a technical fault, but the MP lost his temper,” said a municipal worker present at the scene.

Defending the lawmaker’s behavior, Singh’s representative Neeta Soni sparked further outrage by posting on social media, “The MP merely slapped him. His arms and legs should have been broken. If he had fallen from that height, who would have taken responsibility?”

The statement provoked sharp political backlash. The Congress condemned the assault, calling it “a display of arrogance and power intoxication.” State party spokesperson Abhinav Baraulia said, “This is the real face of the BJP — where leaders believe they own the public servants and the public alike.”

The assault, which unfolded during a government-backed event meant to promote unity and respect, has left citizens outraged. Authorities have yet to confirm whether any disciplinary action will be taken against the MP or if the municipal employee has lodged a complaint.