Stones hurled at former BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu’s convoy in Jammu

SHO Satwari Kuljeet Choudhary said the agitators were annoyed with Sidhu over his recent statement on their religious book.

However, BJP spokesperson Arun Gupta said that the assailants were supporters of local Congress MLA who is frustrated with the possible poll outcome. “The vehicle has been badly damaged. Driver Parveen Singh was injured in the incident and has been hospitalised. Sidhu had a narrow escape,” Gupta said.

“We condemn this attack. It is Congress’s and its MLA’s frustration due to the growing popularity of BJP not only this constituency, but in the entire state,” he said.

“The attackers were supporters of local Congress MLA who is frustrated with the possible poll outcome. They were raising slogans in favour of the Congress MLA,” Gupta alleged.

The police have arrested two people in the matter.

Sidhu has cancelled his rally at Bhor Camp and has set out for campaigning at other places, the spokesperson said.

This was the second attack on Sidhu in last three days in the constituency, where sitting Congress minister Raman Bhalla is the Congress candidate. Earlier, some people had pelted stones on him at Digiana when he was returning to Jammu after addressing a rally there.