Bikaner- Bikaner Congress President and former IPS officer Madan Gopal Meghwal was slapped and punched on Wednesday, during the inauguration of a municipal election office in Ward 50. The incident took place at the campaign office of Congress candidate Navratan Daga.
According to Meghwal, party worker Mohit Arora and three associates first called him outside on the pretext of welcoming him and offering a garland. After offering sweets, Arora asked why he had not been given the Congress ticket from Ward 50. Meghwal replied that many people seek tickets but only one candidate can be fielded. The four then allegedly surrounded him as he came down the stairs, slapped him and punched him on the back. His kurta was torn. When other people arrived after hearing the commotion, the four youths fled.
Meghwal said Arora had been following him for two days seeking the Ward 50 ticket. On Tuesday, when Arora visited the party office, Meghwal had welcomed him by placing a scarf around his neck. On Wednesday, Arora first stood at the back of the inauguration and raised Congress slogans before the alleged assault. Former minister B.D. Kalla and the rural Congress district president were also present at the programme.
After the incident, Meghwal said the party had “proved through this incident that it does not give tickets to goons.” He said a legal response would follow and that he would reply politically by working to win Ward 50. He alleged the attackers were Congress workers. Videos and photographs of the assault circulated widely the same day.
Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot condemned the assault, calling it “extremely unfortunate” and “unacceptable indiscipline.” He said those who beat Meghwal “cannot be Congressmen” because the act goes against the party’s culture and ideology, and asked police to arrest them immediately.
Rajasthan Leader of the Opposition Tika Ram Jully also termed the incident “shameful and condemnable.” He said political differences are permissible, but violence and goondaism cannot be tolerated, and demanded that police identify, arrest and take legal action against the accused.
Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee President Govind Singh Dotasara too, condemned the incident. He said, " The assault on Bikaner City Congress District President Madan Meghwal is utterly shameful and condemnable. While there may be room for differences of opinion in politics, violence and hooliganism cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. The police and administration must immediately identify and arrest the culprits and ensure legal action is taken."
The clash has brought into the open discontent over ticket distribution for the upcoming municipal elections in Bikaner.
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