Gujarat Congress MLA attacked by BJP functionary; FIR registered
The Hindu
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condemned the attack on tribal leader Anant Patel
Gujarat Congress MLA and tribal leader Anant Patel was injured after he was allegedly attacked by a local BJP functionary and his supporters in Navsari district, police said on Sunday.
The incident took place on Saturday evening and an FIR was registered at Khergam police station in the wee hours of Sunday in which Mr. Patel accused local BJP leader Babu Ahir, who is the district panchayat president, and his supporters of attacking him after being upset over a song sung in Mr. Patel's support at a garba event.
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condemned the attack on Mr. Patel, who has been leading an agitation against the Centre's Par-Tapi-Narmada link project in Gujarat, and claimed it was a result of the "anger of the BJP government".
The BJP, however, raised questions about the attack and said there was a need to probe whether it was a "stunt to gain sympathy".
The Gujarat Assembly elections are due in December this year.
According to the FIR, Mr. Patel, the legislator from Vansda in Navsari, was attacked by a group of around 50 people and his vehicle was damaged at Khergam when he was on his way to a meeting on Saturday evening.
Apart from Ahir, the FIR named five other accused and a group of 40-45 people who were allegedly behind the attack.