Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s car was on Monday attacked by protesters allegedly belonging to Akali Dal who pelted stones on the vehicle breaking its windshield but the Aam Aadmi Party leader escaped unhurt.
The AAP alleged that it was an “orchestrated attack” and that police stood by as Kejriwal’s car was targeted with rods and stones.
Police said activists belonging to Akali Dal and Danga Peedit Association were protesting against Kejriwal outside the venue where the Delhi chief minister was holding a party function.
Due to presence of protesters, the police decided to arrange his exit from the back of the banquet hall, a police spokesman said.
But, the protesters came to know about it. They rushed there and pelted stones, breaking the wind shield of Kejriwal’s Innova vehicle.
Kejriwal immediately lodged a strong protest with Senior Superintendent of Police, Rural, Harcharan Singh Brar, who was present there, telling him that whatever happened was not right. The Delhi chief minister then drove away in his car.
Kejriwal later said that his car was attacked by sticks and stones and that Akali Dal and Congress were nervous.
“My car attacked with sticks and stones in Ludhiana. Front glass pane broken. Badals and Congress nervous? They can’t break my spirits,” the Delhi chief minister said on Twitter.
Kejriwal was in the city on the last day of his five-day tour of Punjab during which he visited various cities including Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Sangrur and Bathinda to reach out to people ahead of 2017 Assembly polls.
He was scheduled to visit Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib and Patiala before returning to Delhi on Monday.
The AAP lashed out at the ruling Akali Dal in Punjab over the attack.
“In a well orchestrated attack, the goons sent by Badals attacked Kejriwal’s car with stones and rods as police stood by.
“The attackers came within an inch of grievously injuring Kejriwal. It was by only God’s grace that he escaped unhurt,” party leader Ashish Khetan tweeted.
Kejriwal was at Boha village of Ludhiana where two Dalit youths Harinder Singh and Jatinder Singh were killed in alleged “fake encounter” by police a couple of years ago.
“Terror of Badals is all set to end after one year”, Kejriwal told the family of the slain youths.
Image: The damaged windshield of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's car. Photograph: @AashishKhetan/Twitter
