NCP worker thrashed for showing black flag at Pragya rally

Bhopal: BJP supporters beat up an NCP worker, Raju Bhatnagar, for allegedly showing black flags to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, BJP nominee from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat, during her road show on Tuesday.

Bhatnagar said he was upset over Pragya’s remarks against 26/11 martyr Hemant Karkare.

The BJP show of strength began in the walled city area in the afternoon with Pragya addressing a gathering of party workers at Peer Gate square. The procession then set off on the 3km journey to the district collector office where she was to file her nomination papers and B-From.

Bhatnagar — who says he is a former district president of NCP — allegedly waved black flags at Pragya’s procession. BJP workers sprang out of the crowd, grabbed Bhatnagar by the collar and started beating him. Desperate to save himself, he ran into the SDM’s office, but some BJP workers barged in and attacked him in the presence of policemen, who tried to shield him but failed.

More policemen arrived, plucked him from the melee and took him away. Police said that they have identified those involved in the attack and registered cases on complaints from both sides.

Pragya, a Malegaon blast accused, is pitted against Congress heavyweight Digvijaya Singh. She had filed her nomination on Tuesday, citing ‘shubh muhurat’ as 11 priests chanted mantras outside the collectorate. Wednesday was the grand show where fans and followers from New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka were also present. The procession took an hour to reach the collector’s office.

Earlier in the day, Pragya addressed a public gathering with senior BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj, former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, state in-charge, Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Rajya Sabha member Prabhat Jha and state BJP chief Rakesh Singh on the dais. Sadhus, led by Pragya’s mentor, Guru Swami Parmanand, were present in large numbers.


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