Friday saw Kanhaiya Kumar, an Congress candidate for the North East Delhi Lok Sabha member seat, being assaulted in the New Usmanpur area of East Delhi. At least seven people were involved in the incident, including those who beat him and threw ink at him. There is a video of this appalling incident available online now and it has become very popular since then.
In videos released after the incident, the attackers openly discussed their deeds. They say they assaulted Kumar because he chanted slogans that were construed by them as being anti- national and at the same time opposed the Indian Army. These accusations are linked to the disorderly circumstances that occurred in Jawaharlal Nehru University in 2016 when Kumar served as the president of its students’ union.
Chhaya Gaurav Sharma, an AAP councilor from Brahmapuri, was with Kumar during the attack. In her complaint, she detailed the events, stating that as they left the party office in Kartar Nagar, the attackers garlanded Kumar before throwing ink on him and physically assaulting him. Sharma reported that three to four women were injured in the scuffle, and a woman journalist fell into a drain. She also mentioned that the attackers dragged her to a corner using her stole and threatened her and her husband with death.
Police from Delhi have confirmed the receipt of the complaint of Sharma and have already commenced an investigation concerning this matter. They are poring over the videos which have been circulating. In one of these videos, two men can be seen with reddened hands, claiming they attacked Kumar as a response to his alleged anti-national statements. They identified themselves as ‘Sanatani lions’ and justified their actions by accusing Kumar of insulting the Indian Army.
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Contesting for a seat in the Lok Sabha, the incumbent MP Mr. Tiwari from BJP faces defeat against Kanhaiya Kumar who is in stiff competition with him. Only one BJP member from Delhi did not get a new candidate in the current elections, namely Mr. Tiwari. The assault on Kumar simply intensifies tensions amid mounting political temperatures ahead of Delhi’s sixth phase polls slated for 25th May.
This episode shows the rising political conflicts and the extremes that some go to show they disagree with certain things. Safety of those vying for political seats and adherence to democracy need to remain the center of attraction until the investigation ends.
