Chouhan firefights for Vijayvargiya on 'Indore on fire' remark

BJP vice-president Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said his party colleague Kailash Vijayvargiya's reported "setting Indore on fire" remark has been misconstrued and what the latter actually meant was he will "set off a fire of protests" against the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh.

Vijayvargiya, a former Madhya Pradesh minister who hails from the city, has been booked by the police for his reported remark that he would have "set Indore on fire", made during a BJP-organised protest here last week.

Coming out in defence of the BJP general secretary in- charge of West Bengal, Chouhan said there is no question of engaging in arson.

There is no question of setting on fire (Indore). It was regarding protest. He (Vijayvargiya) had talked about protests.

"I am also saying that we will launch a fire of agitations, the former chief minister told reporters here.

Chouhan was responding to scribes' queries seeking his reaction to Vijayvargiyas controversial remark.

In a democracy, protest is a source of strength. Our leaders and activists will pour onto the streets if the Congress government does not heed to concerns of public, he warned.

Asked about his party colleague's possible arrest, Chouhan said, Vijayvargiya is holding a big office of general secretary. In case, the state government tries to muzzle the voice of a BJP activist, we will spill onto the streets."
The video, apparently shot during a protest organised by the BJP in the Residency area on Friday last, purportedly showed Vijayvargiya saying, "Our Sangh (RSS) leaders are (here), otherwise (we) would have set Indore on fire today."
In the video, the BJP leader was heard saying, "Have they (top officers) become so big? Officers should understand that they are public servants."
Opposing the FIR against Vijayvargiya, Chouhan said, The registration of police case is gross injustice and oppression."