Tura/Shillong, July 20: Rangsakona MLA, Subir Marak has landed himself in a soup after he allegedly assaulted an employee of the MBOSE Guest House in Shillong when the chowkidar was late in coming to open the main gate to allow him and some of his guests in late at night.
As per reports, at about 2 AM on July 16, the Rangsakona MLA along with what he stated were teachers that he had called to his house for dinner, arrived at the Guest House to drop them off for the night. However, given the timing, the chowkidar, who also hails from Garo Hills, was late in attending his call to open the gate as he was asleep.
The enraged MLA honked and banged at the gate for close to 30 minutes before he asked someone to climb up the enter the compound to wake up the caretaker to open the gate. A sleepy gatekeeper then opened the gate to allow the visitors’ in. However, the wait to get into the Guest House seems to have irked the MLA who then got into a heated argument with not only the caretaker but also with his wife, who was not amused at what was happening. The MLA slapped caretaker of the guest house and the act was caught in the CCTV of the guest house, which later went viral.
In the CCTV footage available, Subir can be clearly seen slapping the employee while heated words were exchanged, despite the time of the morning.
The incident has gone viral on social media with almost everyone from the state coming down on the alleged highhandedness of the MLA in question.
Following the incident, the MLA has expressed his deep regret at what happened while still blaming the delay in opening of the gate for his tirade.
While no complaints have been filed into the incident, social media has been abuzz ever since the video of what took place went viral. Surprisingly, the MLA while apologizing felt the video going viral was a breach of his privileges despite the incident taking place in a public compound.
The MLA clarifies:
“I booked a MBOSE guest house at Laithumkrah in my name. The guests were teacher representatives from Garo hills. They had an appointment with the Education minister as well with Director DSEL on Jul 16. On Jul 15 evening, I invited them for dinner to my residence.
After dinner I personally came to drop them to the guest house and reached at 2 AM. I waited there for half an hour blowing the siren and horn (30 mins) after which my PSO climbed over the wall and woke the chowkidar. We had a verbal argument with the chowkidar’s wife talking very rudely. So I gave a ‘mild’ slap which I should not have done, being a public representative. It all happened in the heat of the moment. I have apologized to the chowkidar,” said Subir, while still calling it a breach of privilege of an MLA.
The teachers, who were with him at time and were witness to what took place, defended the MLA stating that the MLA did wait for half an hour and the wife of the chowkidar speaking rudely to the MLA.
They too added that the incident going viral on social media was a breach of privilege of the MLA who only tried to accommodate them.
People’s Reactions:
Most felt the MLA’s actions were in contravention of being a public representative and the fact that they reached the Guest House only at 2 AM should have made him aware of the circumstances.
“Who on earth would like to be woken up at 2 AM in the night, especially in a guest house and then to be slapped by an MLA because you are fast asleep just shows the showmanship on display. The wife had every right to get angry for what took place. The highhandedness of the MLA is beyond understanding,” felt a resident of Tura.
Similar comments and expressions have flooded social media following videos of the incident going viral.