Web Report
NEW DELHI — A day after social activist Swami Agnivesh was attacked in Jharkhand by a group of suspected BJP Yuva Morcha activists, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attacked the government using a pop quiz that asked people to the name the “perpetrator of hatred and fear”.
“I bow to the most powerful in the line. A person’s strength and power are all that are important to me. I use hatred and fear to maintain the hierarchy of power.
“I seek out the weakest and crush them. I rank all living beings based on their usefulness to me. Who am I?” Gandhi said on twitter attaching the video of Agnivesh being attacked in Jharkhand’s Pakur.
The 78-year-old activist was assaulted by 100-150 suspected Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activists shouting “Jai Shri Ram” slogans.
In one image of the horrific attack, Swami Agnivesh is seen on the ground, his arms raised in a defensive stance against the crowd, his clothes ripped.
The incident happened on Tuesday when the group pounced on Agnivesh as he stepped out of a hotel to get into a car to take part in the 195th Damin Mahotsav at Littpara.
Even after a day, a top police officer confirmed that there have been no arrests till now, even though the attack is on camera, reports NDTV.
Swami Agnivesh has been provided security by the state government.
Though the BJP, which rules the state, has denied that the attackers were linked to the party, a party leader said the attack shouldn’t be seen in isolation and “Swami Agnivesh’s ‘track record’ is such that the reaction doesn’t come as a surprise”.
“There have been cases where Swami Agnivesh’s speech hurt religious sentiment. The state government will investigate on the attack. What we know so far is that, Swami Agnivesh said a few things which hurt religious sentiments of people,” said Deepak Prakash, a BJP leader in Ranchi.
