Muzaffarnagar, Aug 1 (KNN) In an unprecedented turn of events, a sitting BJP MLA led a violent mob to raid an MSME in Muzaffarnagar physically assaulting and injuring the entrepreneur and the workers, leaving the MSMEs of the region in a state of shock.

A small scale unit based in Begrajpur Industrial Area in Muzaffarnagar, manufacturers Zinc Sulphate- a micronutrient fertilizer. Following the death of a farmer by heart-attack allegedly due to shock of crop-failure, a few villagers attributed the death to the affluent discharged by the unit which the latter denied.

The matter of crop damage had been reported to the District Magistrate twenty days ago who set up an investigation team to probe the charges.  

In the meantime, the local MLA  Vikram Saini from Khatauli constituency took matters in his hands. He and his goons staged a dharna- sit-in protest in front of the factory gate. He was seen inciting the mob in a recorded video stating that they would set the factory on fire.  The mob turned violent and later mounted attack on the occupants of the factory seriously injuring one of the directors, the CEO and several workers. The attack caused a massive destruction of equipment and material.

Members of the Association of Begrajpur Industrial Area and the Muzaffarnagar chapter of  Indian Industries Association- the industry body of MSMEs in UP, are fuming. According to them there was no need to launch a violent attack when the matter was already under investigation of the District Administration. 

The MLA’s action was to harass and extract ransom from the entrepreneur, they allege. 

UP is one of the states having largest un-employment rate in India, the elected representative from Khatouli, however, seems to undo what the state government is trying to attract investors.

‘The existing businesses are the biggest ambassadors of the investment climate in a state. Instead of investing millions on advertisement to attract investment, the BJP should rein in such rogue leaders who are scaring and harassing the MSMEs in the state by taking law in their own hands’, says the spokesman of IIA.

The matter has been widely reported in the national dailies with both Times of India and Dainik Jagaran carrying detailed stories today. (KNN Bureau)