Days after his public display of a revolver at a hospital, Gopal Mandal, a Janata Dal (United) MLA from Bihar, stirred up yet another controversy on October 6, this time by verbally attacking journalists.
When pressed by journalists about his party’s MLA openly showcasing a gun at the hospital, he retorted, “Who do you think you are to question me? Yes, I will display it.”
In Hindi, he inquired, “Tum log humare baap ho ki mana karoge? (Are you guys my father to prevent me)?”.
JDU विधायक गोपाल मंडल ने पत्रकारों को दी भद्दी-भद्दी गालियाँ, पिस्तौल से देख लेने तक की धमकी दी.
अस्पताल में पिस्तौल लेकर जाने के सवाल पर भड़के. pic.twitter.com/VN6NbAjMNt
— Utkarsh Singh (@UtkarshSingh_) October 6, 2023
The MLA also stated that he still had the pistol with him and asked the journalists whether they wanted to see it.
As they continued to question him, he grew angry and began verbally abusing them. The MLA also tried to push away the microphones and people holding camera.
On October 3, JD(U) MLA Gopal Mandal, representing Gopalpur, found himself at the centre of controversy following his visit to Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College & Hospital in Bhagalpur. In the hospital he hold a pistol triggering outrage and questions about safety and security in the state. He went to the hospital with his granddaughter for a CT scan.
A video that surfaced on social media captured Mandal’s audacious behaviour as he recklessly displayed the firearm within the hospital premises. Despite being questioned by security staff about the weapon, the legislator reportedly justified his actions by stating, “If I don’t carry it in my hand, where else should I keep it? It’s my style.”
Mandal attempted to justify his actions by referencing past threats from criminals and current political adversaries. He claimed that his community, with a significant voter base, supported him fervently. According to him, his rivals were threatened by his growing popularity, especially in light of his aspirations to become a Member of Parliament (MP) in the upcoming elections.
He declared his intention to use the revolver for self-defense, warning that he would not hesitate to shoot anyone who posed a threat, be it at the hospital or elsewhere.
