BJP To Permanently Suspend Uttarakhand MLA After Viral Video Shows Him Dancing With Guns, Drinks In Hand

Days after video of Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion dancing to a Bollywood song and brandishing guns and drink in hand went viral on social media, the party has recommended the central leadership to suspend him permanently.

A 2-minute long video of Champion went viral on social media prompting an embarrassed party. (Image: ANI Videograb)

Dehradun: Days after video of a sacked Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Uttarakhand Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion dancing to a Bollywood song and brandishing guns and drink in hand went viral on social media, the party has recommended the central leadership to suspend him permanently. "Party is taking action against BJP MLA Pranav Champion and central leadership has been recommended to permanently suspend him," Shyam Jaju, BJP Uttarakhand state in-charge told news agency ANI. A 2-minute long video of Champion went viral on social media prompting an embarrassed party to issue a show cause notice to him. In the video, the Khanpur MLA is purportedly seen dancing to a popular Bollywood number with two revolvers in his hands and a carbine hanging from his shoulder. He is seen sipping his drink from a glass as his friends cheer him on. BJP's national media in-charge Anil Baluni had earlier said the party strongly condemns the MLA's behaviour and strict action will be taken against him. However, reacting to the incident, Champion claimed that the video clip was edited and termed it an intrusion into his privacy. "The video which has gone viral is edited and an intrusion into my privacy. I never used abusive words against anyone as is being shown by the media," he told a private news channel. The guns with which he is seen dancing were "licensed, unloaded and not pointed at anyone", he said, adding that "there was nothing wrong in dancing with guns".  He also said he had been playing with guns since his childhood. Accusing the media of not showing the positive side of his personality, he claimed at the age of 53 he was the fittest MLA in the country. "Show me a single four time MLA who has my level of fitness at the age of 53 and is as highly qualified as me. I am defying age. But the media never shows these positive aspects of my personality," Champion said. The BJP had last month suspended Champion from the party for three months on charges of indiscipline. This suspension had followed preliminary investigations by the party into charges of indiscipline against him and that of threatening a journalist at Uttarakhand Niwas in New Delhi. This is not for the first time that the irresponsible BJP MLA has steeped his foot into controversy. He was also in the news a couple of months ago for publicly indulging in a war of words with BJP MLA from Jhabreda Deshraj Karnawal and challenging him to a wrestling bout.