New Delhi, Aug 17: Social activist, and progressive religious leader Swami Agnivesh was attacked by suspected saffron extremists right outside the BJP office at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg in Delhi while he was on his way to pay respects to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
In the video, the Swami can be seen being chased by a mob and a man, putting his arms around Agnivesh, is shielding him. There are people who are taking pictures and recording the incident, but there is no express attempt to intervene in the matter. Delhi Police rushed to the spot and rescued him.
"I had gone to pay my respects to Vajpayee ji. Because of the police pickets, I had to walk down the last stretch... suddenly a group of people came and attacked us. There were two-three of us and they were quite a few. They beat us, pushed us around, abused us and knocked off my turban," Mr Agnivesh told a TV channel on the phone. "They kept shouting 'he's a traitor, he's a traitor, beat him'," he added.
Mr Vajpayee, a three-time prime minister and the BJP's patriarch, died yesterday at 93. His body was kept in state at the BJP's new office on Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Road for tributes ahead of his funeral.
It could be recalled here that Agnivesh was attacked by members of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in Jharkhand's Pakur district on July 17.
"It was a well-planned attack. Those who led the mob were associated with the RSS and the BJP. We have given names to the police,” Agnivesh had then said.
He said the district commissioner was informed about his itinerary but there was no arrangement of security. “The moment, I came out of my hotel some people holding black flags started punching me. I fell on the ground and they kicked me, tore my clothes and threw my turban. I am thankful to god for being alive today," said Agnivesh.
The social activist denied allegations that he was speaking against Sanatan Dharma. "Instead, I advocated vegetarian foods in place of non-vegetarianism. I don't think anybody felt offended," said Agnivesh.
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