Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Independent MP from Bihar’s Purnea, Pappu Yadav, was targeted after a person threw a shoe at him during a press conference in Delhi, triggering a commotion and a scuffle between his supporters and the attacker.
According to the information provided, the protest was linked to Yadav’s statement on the law related to the theft of donations meant for the Ram Temple.
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The incident led to chaos at the venue, with pushing and shoving breaking out between Yadav’s supporters and the protester after the shoe was thrown. Police have started an investigation into the incident.
According to sources, the person who entered the venue and thrown the shoe at Yadav identified himself as Sumit, a resident of UP’s Bulandshahr. He was overpowered and detained immediately after the incident.
Police are currently verifying the sequence of events at the press conference, including whether the accused had come armed with a knife.
According to police, when Sumit was handed over by Pappu Yadav’s supporters, a knife was also handed over along with him. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the recovery of the knife.
Sources further said that Sumit told police he was upset over the alleged insult to saints, which he cited as the reason behind his actions.
One of Pappu Yadav’s supporters alleged that the attacker had pulled out a knife during the incident.
“Pappu Yadav is constantly serving the public. The moment he pulled out a knife from behind, we immediately acted together and overpowered him. Had we not restrained him at that moment, it is possible that our Pappu-ji might not have been with us today,” the supporter said.
Pappu Yadav also claimed that the accused had come to kill him.
“He came to kill me with a knife,” Yadav alleged.
The MP further alleged that there was a conspiracy to kill him.
“Every day, some religious figures are saying, ‘Burn him, we will give Rs 51 lakh.’ Everyone is saying, ‘Kill him.’ There was a conspiracy to kill me,” Yadav said.
Pappu Yadav’s media convenor, who was present at the spot, alleged that the attack escalated after the shoe was thrown.
“They first took off a slipper and threw it. When the knife was drawn to attack, our supporters and associates tried to restrain the assailant. I stepped forward and positioned myself between the attacker and Pappu Yadav, and I was beaten severely as a result,” he said.
The media convenor further alleged that the Delhi Police failed to protect the MP despite prior warnings.
“I tried to help Pappu Yadav escape the scene. The Delhi Police stood by and allowed the beating to happen. The police seemed to be shielding the goons. These people had come to stage a ‘Prayagraj Part Two’—they came to replicate the Atiq Ahmed incident today,” he alleged.
Claiming that he was injured in the scuffle, he said, “I was beaten so badly while facing two or three individuals that I lost consciousness. My associates carried me away from the spot. The Delhi Police took the attackers away, so they would know the exact number.”
He also claimed that he had alerted the police in advance about threats to the MP.
“I personally met the DCP this morning and filed a formal complaint stating that the MP was arriving today and has been receiving constant threats on social media. Despite knowing all this, they deployed only three or four police personnel here,” he alleged.
The media convenor further claimed that no police personnel helped Pappu Yadav during the attack.
“Not a single policeman stepped forward to help Pappu Yadav escape. When the assault was taking place, they focused solely on saving the goons and whisked them away from the scene. There were people hiding behind the cameras, three or four of them. Suddenly, someone pulled out a knife, another a slipper. The MP was the target, no one else,” he alleged.
Congress leader Pawan Khera also reacted to the incident, criticising the Delhi Police.
“The Delhi Police seems remarkably efficient when it comes to repressing students peacefully demanding their constitutional rights. But when it comes to protecting a vocal Opposition leader – even a sitting Member of Parliament – at his own residence, it suddenly falls short,” Khera said in a post on X.
He further said, “Ever since Anurag Kumar took charge as Delhi’s Police Commissioner, the force’s record has gone from bad to worse.”
Police are verifying the facts surrounding the incident, including the alleged use of a knife, and the investigation is underway.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
