Senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya has defended his son Akash Vijayvargiya - a party lawmaker - who assaulted a civic official with a cricket bat in Madhya Pradesh's Indore last week, calling him "kachha khiladi" or a "novice". Mr Vijayvargiya also said that the incident, which played out on national television, wan't a "big issue".
Akash Vijayvargiya, 34, was arrested on Friday; he was released on bail on Sunday. The first-time legislator received a grand welcome from family and supporters as he walked out of a prison in Indore. Kailash Vijayvargiya, too, was present outside the jail where his son was garlanded by supporters as he stepped out.
"I think there was mishandling from both the sides. Both Akash ji and the municipal corporation commissioner are novice players. It was not a big issue, but it was made huge," Kailash Vijayvargiya said.