Pakur: As the Supreme Court of India asked the Parliament to bring in special laws to check lynching case, 79-year -old social activist Swami Agnivesh was beaten by a mob comprising members of BJP Yuva Morcha in Pakur district of Jharkhand, on Tuesday.
Swami Agnivesh was in Pakur to attend an event organized by a tribal community. The moment he stepped out of the hotel, after addressing a press conference, he was assaulted by a mob comprising 10 to 15 people. The attackers, who roughened the social activist, after chanting “Jai Shri Ram” were allegedly unhappy with Swami Agnivesh’s work.
However, the P Shahdeo, BJP spokesperson for Jharkhand refuted the allegation of BJP workers being involved in attacking him. He on the contrary, maintained that based on the ‘track-record” of Swami Agnivesh, anything could have happened to him.
Significantly, Swami Agnivesh has claimed that he was aware of ABVP and BJP workers having announced to stage a protest during his Pakur visit, following which he had requested Pakur’s Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police to be present during the event. However, the police officials did not pay heed to his request.
The attack on Swami Agnivesh, who has served as a minister in the Haryana government and is presently involved in spiritual and social activities, has been sharply criticized.
Jharkhand Vikash Morcha’s chief Babulal Marandi has termed the attack on Agnivesh as an on democracy. "It is an attack on the freedom of expression and Jharkhand government is fully responsible for it. Such incidents ruin the image of state in the country," stated a press communiqué issued by Babulal Marandi.
The Jharkhand government headed by Raghubar Das, has also initiated a probe into the matter.
