Varanasi: SP worker hires bouncers to 'guard' tomatoes at his vegetable shop
Varanasi (UP), Jul 9: In an apparent attempt to score political points, an SP worker who is also a vegetable vendor purportedly hired bouncers to "protect" the produce in his store amid record high prices of tomatoes across the country.
Ajay Fauji, who runs a grocery business in the Lanka area of Varanasi, has deployed two bouncers, he says, to prevent buyers from getting aggressive while haggling the tomato prices.
Fauji had earlier cut a tomato-shaped cake in Varanasi on the birthday of Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav.
"I kept hearing about arguments over the tomato price among people. People at my shop too tried to haggle. So to put an end to the constant arguments, I decided to deploy bouncers in uniform at my cart," Fauji told PTI.
Fauji's shop also has a placard mentioning the rising prices of commodities over the last "nine years," an apparent reference to the period the Narendra Modi-led government has been in power at the Centre.
Fauji, who is selling tomatoes at Rs 140-160 per kg, has the bouncers deployed at his cart from 9 am to 5 pm.
He refused to reveal how much he hired them for. "No one will provide bouncers free of cost."
Asked how keeping bouncers has helped him, Fauji claimed even though people are coming in same numbers, they are less militant about the pricing now.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav too shared the image of a news clip relating to Fauji and his bouncers, and tweeted, "The BJP should provide 'Z-Plus' security to tomatoes."
भाजपा टमाटर को ‘Z PLUS’ सुरक्षा दे. pic.twitter.com/k1oGc3T5LN
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) July 9, 2023
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Balasaheb would have broken his mouth: Eknath Shinde on Arvind Sawant's 'imported maal' remark
Thane: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has strongly criticised Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant for his comment referring to Shaina NC as "imported maal." Shinde asserted that if Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray were alive, he "would have broken his mouth" for making such a remark. Calling Sawant's statement "unfortunate," Shinde condemned the disrespect toward women, saying, "Speaking ill of a woman is highly condemnable, and no amount of criticism is enough."
Shinde expressed that the women of Maharashtra would ensure Sawant faces consequences in the upcoming elections, highlighting that such remarks reveal the character of those making them. Following Shaina NC’s complaint, a case has been registered at Nagpada Police Station, listing charges related to defamation and outraging the modesty of a woman.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also criticised Sawant’s remarks, affirming that derogatory comments against women have no place in society and contradict Maharashtra's values of respect and dignity.
In response, Sawant clarified that he did not directly mention Shaina’s name and claimed his remarks were misinterpreted. The Maharashtra Assembly elections are set for November 20, with vote counting on November 23.
