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Delhi CM Rekha Gupta attacked during public event at residence, cops nab man
Delhi BJP president Virendraa Sachdeva refuted reports of CM Rekha Gupta getting slapped and said she hit her head at the edge of a table or chair.
Delhi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit on Wednesday said a “mishap happened” during Jan Sunvai at chief minister Rekha Gupta's residence in Civil Lines, referring to initial reports of a person “slapping” the CM and “pulling her hair” during the event. Officials said one person has been detained in connection with the matter.
Initial reports stated that the chief minister was “slapped” and her “hair was pulled” before security overpowered the attacker. However, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, who met Gupta later, dismissed those claims as “fabricated.”
He said the incident involved a man trying to pull the CM’s hand, which led to some jostling during which “maybe her head touched the edge of a table "a little,” adding that she had been examined by doctors and was stable.
Rekha Gupta attack - what happened
Delhi BJP, in its initial statement, had said a “mishap happened during Jan Sunvai at CM Residence, Civil Lines”. Delhi BJP president Virendraa Sachdeva strongly condemns the attack on CM Rekha Gupta, the statement said, adding that police inquiry will reveal details.
According to people in CM office, the chief minister was interacting with citizens and listening to their grievances when a man suddenly surged forward, handed over an piece of paper to the CM, started talking in a loudly with her, using expletives before “slapping” her.
The security personnel present at the even overpowered the attacker and took him into custody, the above-mentioned people said, adding that the motive of attack is not yet known. The attacker is currently being questioned at the Civil Lines Police Station.
Delhi BJP president Virendraa Sachdeva, refuting reports of CM getting slapped, said that the CM is all stable and doctors have examined her. "This has caused some shock. I have met her, she is a strong woman. It seems that the slap or stone-throwing stories are fabricated. Jan Sunvai will continue. CM is resting right now but she has said that she will not cancel her programmes," Sachdeva added.
He also said that police are conducting an investigation and will reveal more details on the incident and attacker soon.
Also Read: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta slapped at her residence: What exactly happened
A woman, who claimed to be present at the scene during the incident, said the person was speaking and “suddenly slapped her”.
"This is wrong. Everyone has the right to Jan Sunvai. If an imposter can slap her, this is a big deal...I was there...The person was speaking and he suddenly slapped. Police have taken him away...," ANI quoted the witness, Anjali.
Widespread condemnation
Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor also confirmed the above-mentioned information that the attack occurred during the Jan Sunvai at CM residence when a person handed over a paper to the chief minister and “started hurling abuses”. "We are being told that he attacked her physically by pulling hair. From the things that he way saying it seems that this person had criminal intent and had political leanings. He has been detained by police. We are waiting further inquiry," he said.
On the alleged “mishap” on Delhi CM Rekha Gupta during Jan Sunvai at her residence, Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav said, “This is very unfortunate. CM leads the entire Delhi, and I think that the more such incidents are condemned, the less it is.”
He, however, added that this incident “also exposes women's safety”.
If the CM of Delhi is not safe, how can a common man or common woman be safe, the Delhi Congress president asked.
