Congress’s Kanhaiya Kumar attacked in Northeast Delhi: Two men slap him, throw ink
While the Congress claimed the attackers were affiliated with the BJP and Northeast Delhi's sitting MP Manoj Tiwari, the latter’s office denied the claim and accused the Congress of spreading rumours. An AAP councillor who saw the incident filed a complaint; Delhi Police said it is taking action.
Kanhaiya Kumar addresses the crowd after the incident. (Express File Phtoto) Congress candidate from Northeast Delhi Kanhaiya Kumar was allegedly attacked by two men — one slapped him and another flung black ink — just as he was leaving the Aam Aadmi Party’s New Usmanpur office in Northeast Delhi following a meeting with a councillor, Friday.
While the Congress and Kumar’s office claimed the attackers were affiliated with the BJP and were “right-hand men” of Northeast Delhi’s sitting MP, and candidate, Manoj Tiwari, the latter’s office denied the claim and accused the Congress of spreading rumours.
The incident took place in the evening when a crowd of AAP and Congress workers, along with councillors, were escorting Kumar. Purported videos of the incident showed a man, with a long beard and dressed in a black shirt, raising slogans of “Kanhaiya bhaiya zindabad”. Holding a garland and a packet of rose petals, he approached Kumar, ostensibly to garland him, but instead threw ink on him while another man slapped the Congress leader. Kumar’s supporters quickly surrounded the attackers and retaliated.
The PSO appointed by Delhi Police was also present during the incident.
Chhaya Sharma, AAP councillor from Brahmpuri who hosted the meeting with Kumar, has filed a complaint with the Delhi Police. She alleged, “The person who did this was sitting next to Manoj Tiwari in a meeting. When I rushed to protect Kanhaiya, they manhandled me and threatened to kill me and my husband.”
Screengrabs from a purported video of the attack (File Photo)
DCP (Northeast) Joy Tirkey said action is being taken on the complaint. “It was found that… when Chhaya Sharma came down to see off Kanhaiya Kumar, some persons came and put a garland around… Kumar. After garlanding him, some persons threw ink and tried to assault him. When Chhaya Sharma tried to intervene, they misbehaved and threatened her,” he said.
‘Dirty tactics won’t scare me’
After the incident, Kumar’s office said it had “identified the people to be BJP’s men”.
Kumar said, “There is a limit that must not be crossed, even when it comes to politics; you cannot attack a woman due to your political affiliations. I condemn this incident… we have voted for you (Tiwari) twice then you must uphold dignity in your position. If I have committed a felony, then you must arrest me but circulating fake videos and sending goons is not done.”
Addressing a gathering later, Kumar said, “You can try to stop me as much as you like, but I have the blood of freedom fighters running through my veins. When we are not scared of the British, there is no way we are going to be threatened by these people… They think people will just continue suffering their injustices, but the people are now going to answer them. They send their goons, attack women, and then talk about ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao.’ They have done this in Surat, in Gandhinagar, where candidates made videos while crying because they had sent goons to their houses. But I would like to tell them that I am Kanhaiya Kumar, and your dirty tactics are not going to scare me.”
Kumar’s office also circulated a purported photo, showing one of the alleged attackers in a gathering addressed by MP Tiwari, and alleged in a statement: “Tiwari is upset with the huge public support Kanhaiya is getting and fear of defeat. This is an attempt to attack Kanhaiya by sending his fellow goons. The answer to violence will be given by the people on May 25.”
Manoj Tiwari’s office responded: “Kanhaiya Kumar is losing elections from North East Delhi and his team is spreading rumours… We do not indulge in such petty things. Tukde Tukde wale Kumar is trying to create a sensation by dragging the name of his opponent out of frustration in a baseless claim.”
Congress interim chief Devender Yadav said the party will report this incident to the Election Commission. “They (BJP) don’t have anything to talk about when it comes to development, so they’re using these petty tactics to disturb his campaign…,” he added.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said, “The BJP is once again resorting to its usual attitude of thuggery and violence in the face of a historic defeat. The cowardly attack by BJP goons on our Northeast Delhi candidate Kanhaiya Kumar is highly deplorable and shows their desperation.”
He added, “They should know that Kanhaiya is a Congress babbar sher who is not going to be rattled by such pathetic acts. All the workers of the INDIA bloc stand by him against this fascist and criminal regime’s dirty tactics.”
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