Swami Agnivesh Allgedly Attacked By Yuva Morcha. Probe Ordered

Social activist Swami Agnivesh was allegedly attacked on Tuesday by workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s youth wing in Jharkhand’s Pakur district, police said, prompting chief minister Raghubar Das to order a probe into the incident. Agnivesh said he suspected it to be a sponsored assault and demanded a judicial probe.

“As soon as I came out of the venue, BJYM and ABVP activists attacked me without any provocation. They alleged that I was speaking against Hindus,” he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. State BJP spokesperson P Shahdeo denied involvement of his partymen in the incident. However he added that such an outburst is not unlikely, given Swami Agnivesh’s ‘track record.’

READ ALSO: People Drinking Alcohol in Public in this State to be Fined Rs 2,500

Swami Agnivesh, was attending an event in Pakur, about 365 km from state capital Ranchi. He was flanked by tribals who were holding bows and arrows. He was attacked by a mob as soon as he came out of his hotel. The alleged BJP workers were chanting “Jai Sri Ram” as they thrashed the 80-year-old activist.

Strongly condemn the murderous attack on Swami Agnivesh in BJP ruling state Jharkhand by BJP goons. These state sponsored BJP gundas don’t have any fear of law. Culprits must be punished. BJP should apologise for this shameful & gruesome act. pic.twitter.com/3lJy0UOizr

— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) July 17, 2018

“I am against any sort of violence. I am known as a peace-loving person. I don’t know why I was attacked,” Swami Agnivesh told Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das has ordered a probe. The spokesperson of the BJP’s state unit P Shahdeo said the men who attacked Agnivesh weren’t workers of his party.

They weren’t workers of our party. We condemn this but his track record is such that this reaction doesn’t come as surprise. Pakur has recently been in news for religious conversion: P Shahdeo, Jharkhand BJP spox on Swami Agnivesh thrashed, allegedly by BJP Yuva Morcha workers pic.twitter.com/QfJj7QwvG9

— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2018

 

There was no police personnel present there. Even when I repeatedly called SP & DM they didn’t turn up. I was told that ABVP & BJP Yuva Morcha workers want to protest. I told them there’s no need to protest, they can come in & talk. No one came in at that time: Swami Agnivesh pic.twitter.com/szs6FK86KO

— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2018

“We condemn this but his track record is such that this reaction doesn’t come as surprise. Pakur has recently been in news for religious conversion,” Shahdeo said. A video of the alleged attack with a large crowd thrashing the social activist and his supporters was doing the rounds on social media.