On Friday, BJP members allegedly attacked journalist Nikhil Wagle’s car in Pune for making disparaging statements against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior leader LK Advani.
Political Updates : On Friday, BJP members allegedly attacked journalist Nikhil Wagle’s car in Pune for making disparaging statements against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and longtime leader LK Advani.
In Pune’s Deccan region, unidentified rioters flung ink at his car as he was leaving to speak at the Rashtra Seva Dal-organized “Nirbhay Bano” event. The attack damaged the side windows and windscreen of his car.
“I forgive all those who attacked me,” Mr. Wagle stated in a speech delivered later at the venue. This was the seventh attack on me in the previous six.”
It is said that Mr. Wagle made the disparaging comments about PM Modi and Mr. Advani on X after the Center declared that the latter would get the nation’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.
Based on a complaint made by BJP leader Sunil Deodhar, a case was filed in Pune against the 64-year-old journalist. He’s been charged with inciting hatred between groups and defamation.
Opposition’s Strong Response
Following the vandalism of Nikhil Wagle’s car, the opposition in Maharashtra launched a vicious onslaught on the ruling BJP.
Sharadchandra Pawar MP for the Nationalist Congress Party Supriya Sule questioned the BJP about who granted them “permission to riot” and denounced the incident.
“BJP workers attacked and pelted senior journalist Nikhil Wagle with stones. This ridiculous episode resulted in injuries to a few girls who were walking by on the road. The police were merely observing while this was going on, Ms. Sule wrote on X.
“Did someone give the police the instruction to do nothing this time? Who allowed the BJP to conduct such an openly violent riot? It is a long-standing practice in this nation to refute ideas with ideas. Does the BJP wish to buck this custom and forge a reputation as a hooligan nation? “Strongly denounce this incident,” she continued in her letter.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has several female workers. Sanjay Raut, a leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), also claimed that these ladies were “beaten up by BJP goons”. The MVA is an alliance of Sharadchandra Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party and Congress, together with Mr. Raut’s party.
“Several MVA women were beaten up by BJP goons and were pelted with eggs, stones, and bricks while Pune police watched on.” Nikhil Wagle, a senior journalist, had eggs, ink, and broken glass thrown at his car. Brazen attempt by the BJP to destroy democracy in Pune… MVA will not back down,” he stated on X.