GHAZIABAD, Jan 8:
Activists of a fringe right-wing group today attacked and vandalised the Aam Aadmi Party headquarters in Kaushambi here protesting against the controversial remarks of its senior leader Prashant Bhushan on the presence of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.
Armed with sticks and bricks, about 40 activists of Hindu Raksha Dal stormed the AAP office near the residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and broke the door panes and flower pots in its frontyard.
The attack drew charges and counter-charges with Kejriwal claiming that it was meant to kill him and Bhushan.
Bhushan, a noted lawyer, who had stoked a controversy suggesting a referendum on the presence of security in the Kashmir valley, claimed that the BJP was “frustrated” with the mounting popularity of AAP and had incited one of its sister organisations in the attack.
The BJP hit back by saying that while it condemned the violence, Bhushan should also mind his tongue when speaking on sensitive issues like Jammu and Kashmir, which is an inalienable part of the country.
By evening, Ghaziabad Police arrested national convenor of Hindu Raksha Dal Pinky Choudhary and 12 others in connection with the incident.
Choudhary was arrested from Sahibabad area here and an FIR was lodged against him, along with 30-40 unknown persons, in connection with the attack.
“We have registered an FIR against Pinky Choudhary and around 30-40 unknown persons for the attack on AAP’s office,” Deputy Superintendent of Police Ran Vijay Singh said.
Police said no one was injured in the attack.
Kejriwal questioned the motive and wondered whether they wanted to kill him and Bhushan.
“Let us assume that Prashant Bhushan indeed said something objectionable, so what do they want? Did they want to kill Prashantji?”
He said the party has already clarified its stand on the issue, adding “No god can create such a ‘sena’ (army) that attacks the offices and houses of people. It is against the principles of Lord Rama. I am also a Hindu.”
Bhushan, who is under fire for his remarks on Kashmir, blamed the BJP and RSS-affiliated organisations for the attack on the party office, saying they were “extremely frustrated with the rise of AAP”.
“This incident shows extreme frustration on the part of BJP, RSS and its affiliated organisations with the phenomenal rise of AAP. They are afraid of AAP and fear that it will damage their prospect in the Lok Sabha elections,” he told reporters.
AAP leader Kumar Vishwas blamed BJP for the incident, saying it is frustrated over Delhi Assembly election results.
“Now they fear they will meet the same fate in Lok Sabha elections. Basically all these fanatic right wing outfits are part of BJP,” he claimed.
“This is the problem with the working of BJP. If they come to power they will not allow anyone to speak,” he said, adding, “If they do not agree on any issue, they can stage protest, sit on hunger strike or approach court but cannot resort to violence.”
Reacting to the incident, BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “I do not have complete information about the incident. However, this sort of incident cannot be justified.
“Instead of blaming each other, due course of legal action should be followed. They see BJP even in their dreams. They are working to stop the good governance of BJP. Whenever their fault is pointed out, they see BJP’s hand behind it.”
Meanwhile, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath condemned the attack on the AAP headquarters.
“I condemn politics of violence and it is unfortunate… There is no place for such acts in the country,” he said. (PTI)
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