Ink thrown at Shiv Sena leaders in Lucknow

LUCKNOW: A Shiv Sena worker attempted an ink attack on party MP and national spokesman Sanjay Raut in Lucknow on Tuesday after he was reportedly dissatisfied with

LUCKNOW: A Shiv Sena worker attempted an ink attack on party MP and national spokesman Sanjay Raut in Lucknow on Tuesday after he was reportedly dissatisfied with the functioning of the party’s Uttar Pradesh unit.

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The attacker, identified as Kamlesh Prajapti, however, said the attack was aimed not at Raut but at the party’s newly-appointed coordinator Vinay Shukla.

Shukla’s functioning, the attacker claimed, had led to a lot of resentment in Uttar Pradesh.

“We have nothing against Raut and have, in fact, come here to welcome him. However, at the same time, we cannot tolerate people like Shukla who are thrust upon us,” Prajapati said.

Prajapati was accompanied by a man named Surya Bhan Vishwakarma, who was injured after being attacked by a group who was opposed to him.

Denying that he was the target, Raut later downplayed the incident. “I will get it looked into,” he said.

Both Prajapati and Vishwakarma were residents of Lonha village in Banthara.

Raut was in Lucknow to understand how the party was positioned ahead of the 2017 assembly polls.

Unlike Maharashtra, where the Shiv Sena is a political force and is sharing power with the BJP, in Uttar Pradesh the party is yet to create any ripples.