A day after the mob attack on Swami Agnivesh in Jharkhand, police on Wednesday said no arrests have been made yet even as the social activist alleged the incident was a “pre-planned conspiracy” of the BJP Government in the S tate.
The 79-year-old activist also demanded an inquiry by a sitting judge of the Jharkhand High Court. Agnivesh, who was attacked in Pakur town, 350 km from state capital Ranchi, yesterday by a mob, which, he alleged belonged to the BJP-affiliated youth groups, meanwhile, said he failed to get an audience with Governor Draupadi Murmu today. He later returned to Delhi.
The attack, caught on camera, also echoed in the state Assembly. The Opposition parties staged a noisy protest, forcing adjournment of the House twice. leader of the Opposition Hemant Soren demanded immediate arrest of the culprits. The state Urban Development Minister C P Singh alleged that the social activist was a “fraud” and a “foreign agent”.
Talking to reporters in Ranchi, Singh alleged that Agnivesh wore saffron robes to deceive people and that he had conspired to get himself attacked to gain popularity.
Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Jharkhand president Amit Kumar alleged that Agnivesh was “encouraging separatism and giving protection to naxalites”.
“His speeches on the culture of India and Hindus clearly shows that Agnivesh is trying to divide the tribal society,” he said in a press release.
Agnivesh, who is known for his work against bonded labour, was slapped, kicked around and verbally abused by the mob. He alleged that the BJP-affiliated youth groups had accused him of speaking against Hindus.
Superintendent of Police Shailendra Prasad Burnwal said no arrests have been made in the case yet.
Some people were detained in this regard but were released later as their involvement in the incident was not established during interrogation, he added.
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi took a jibe at the BJP over the attack and posted a “pop quiz” on Twitter, asking, “I use hatred and fear to maintain the hierarchy of power, who am I”. Gandhi posted the 'pop quiz' on Twitter and tagged a video of the assault shown by a news channel.
The attack also figured in Parliament. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said in the lok Sabha that the incident showed there was no place for dissent. “We cannot and should not stand by hooliganism... The rule of law should prevail,” he said. “I urge the Prime Minister to break his silence and seek action against anti-national elements.”
Police said an FIR was lodged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code(IPC), including 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly) and 307 (attempt to murder), and the SC/ST Act, 1989.