RAJKOT: A day after the attack on the brother of Congress candidate from Rajkot (west) seat, Indranil Rajguru, by BJP workers over putting up posters in the constituency, both the political parties held simultaneous press conferences on Sunday where they blamed each other for inciting violence in 'peaceful' Rajkot city.
Indranil's brother Divyanil was attacked at Kahaya Chowk with pipes and sticks. He suffered haemorrhage after he was hit on the head by pipe and was shifted to a private hospital.
Even the city police commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot held a press conference defending his subordinates for using force on the Congress workers that had gathered outside chief minister Vijay Rupani's house at Prakash Society on late Saturday night.
Indranil alleged that on the instruction of Rupani's close aide Nitin Bharadwaj, and Kamlesh Mirani, Rajkot city BJP president, the police baton-charged the Congress workers when they were protesting outside the CM's house in Rajkot.
"DCP Karanraj Vaghela was acting at the behest of the BJP and he should be transferred till the elections are over," Indranil told media persons here.
After the attack on Indranil's brother, over 500 Congress workers had rushed to Ruapni's house on Nirmala road and demanded his statement. After heated arguments between the police and the Congress workers, cops used force to disburse the mob and later detained Indranil, Congress candidate from Rajkot (east) Mitul Donga and other party leaders.
Commenting on Indranil's allegations, Gehlot said that DCP Vaghela acted as per law to control the situation. "The police showed patients and tried to placate the protesters. But when the situation got out of hand they had to use force and resorted to baton charging."
On Indranil's allegation that police refused to launch an FIR against the BJP workers, Gehlot claimed that the Congress MLA was not ready to file an FIR.
On allegation that Congress MP from Maharashtra Rajiv Satav was assaulted by police when he went to bail out Indranil and others, Ghelot said that the Congress workers had tried to forcefully enter the police headquarters so they were detained and released later.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Dhansukh Bhandari and Rajkot city party president Kamlesh Mirani accused the Congress of vitiating the atmosphere in Rajkot by inciting violence. "Many great leaders like Vajubhai Vala and Narendra Modi have contested election from Rajkot (west), but never has there been even a single incident of violence," said Bhandari. He blamed the Congress for the violence at Rupani's house in Rajkot.
Indranil, on the other hand, questioned the law and order situation in Rajkot. "If MLA and his family is not safe in this city then nobody is safe."
At one point of time Indranil said, "If Rupani requests me to withdraw, I will do so."
Indranil's brother Divyanil was attacked at Kahaya Chowk with pipes and sticks. He suffered haemorrhage after he was hit on the head by pipe and was shifted to a private hospital.
Even the city police commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot held a press conference defending his subordinates for using force on the Congress workers that had gathered outside chief minister Vijay Rupani's house at Prakash Society on late Saturday night.
Indranil alleged that on the instruction of Rupani's close aide Nitin Bharadwaj, and Kamlesh Mirani, Rajkot city BJP president, the police baton-charged the Congress workers when they were protesting outside the CM's house in Rajkot.
"DCP Karanraj Vaghela was acting at the behest of the BJP and he should be transferred till the elections are over," Indranil told media persons here.
After the attack on Indranil's brother, over 500 Congress workers had rushed to Ruapni's house on Nirmala road and demanded his statement. After heated arguments between the police and the Congress workers, cops used force to disburse the mob and later detained Indranil, Congress candidate from Rajkot (east) Mitul Donga and other party leaders.
Commenting on Indranil's allegations, Gehlot said that DCP Vaghela acted as per law to control the situation. "The police showed patients and tried to placate the protesters. But when the situation got out of hand they had to use force and resorted to baton charging."
On Indranil's allegation that police refused to launch an FIR against the BJP workers, Gehlot claimed that the Congress MLA was not ready to file an FIR.
On allegation that Congress MP from Maharashtra Rajiv Satav was assaulted by police when he went to bail out Indranil and others, Ghelot said that the Congress workers had tried to forcefully enter the police headquarters so they were detained and released later.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Dhansukh Bhandari and Rajkot city party president Kamlesh Mirani accused the Congress of vitiating the atmosphere in Rajkot by inciting violence. "Many great leaders like Vajubhai Vala and Narendra Modi have contested election from Rajkot (west), but never has there been even a single incident of violence," said Bhandari. He blamed the Congress for the violence at Rupani's house in Rajkot.
Indranil, on the other hand, questioned the law and order situation in Rajkot. "If MLA and his family is not safe in this city then nobody is safe."
At one point of time Indranil said, "If Rupani requests me to withdraw, I will do so."
Get latest news & live updates on the go on your pc with News App. Download The Times of India news app for your device.
