In a shocking incident, Kanhaiya Kumar, the Congress party’s Lok Sabha candidate from North East Delhi, faced a brazen assault during his campaign trail. The attack, which involved garlanding followed by the throwing of black ink and physical violence, has not only raised concerns about the safety of political aspirants but also exposed the growing intolerance and divisiveness plaguing the electoral process.
Eyewitness Accounts and Video Evidence
Eyewitness accounts and viral videos paint a harrowing picture of the events that unfolded on Friday in East Delhi’s New Usmanpur area. According to Chhaya Gaurav Sharma, an AAP councillor who accompanied Kumar, seven to eight individuals approached the Congress leader under the guise of garlanding him. However, their true intentions soon became clear as they hurled black ink at Kumar and proceeded to physically assault him.
Attackers Boast About Their Actions
In a chilling display of audacity, two of the alleged attackers released videos boasting about their actions. Calling themselves “Sanatani lions,” they claimed to have “treated” Kumar for allegedly raising slogans about breaking up the country and speaking against the Indian Army. People believe these claims reference the controversial slogans raised at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in 2016, when Kumar was the JNU Students’ Union president.
Collateral Damage and Threats
The violence did not stop with Kumar. Sharma’s complaint alleges that three to four women were also injured during the attack, and a woman journalist fell into a drain. Furthermore, Sharma claims that the attackers dragged her to a corner, threatened to kill her and her husband, and snatched her stole.
Political Accusations and Blame Game
In the aftermath of the assault, Kumar has directly accused his BJP rival, Manoj Tiwari, the sitting Member of Parliament from the North East Delhi constituency, of ordering the attack. Kumar alleges that Tiwari is “frustrated” by his rising popularity and sent “goons” to attack him. Tiwari, however, has not responded to these allegations.
Police Investigation and Potential Consequences
The Delhi Police have confirmed receiving Sharma’s complaint and stated that they are verifying the videos and investigating the incident. If the allegations prove true, the ramifications could be severe, as such acts of violence and intimidation have no place in a democratic society.
Heated Political Climate in North East Delhi
The North East Delhi constituency, with its sizable Purvanchali and Muslim population, is witnessing a high-stakes contest between two-time MP Manoj Tiwari and Kanhaiya Kumar. Tiwari had previously defeated three-time Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit by a record margin in the 2019 elections. The constituency comprises ten assembly segments, including Burari, Timarpur, Seemapuri, Rohtas Nagar, Seelampur, Ghonda, Babarpur, Gokalpur, Mustafabad, and Karawal Nagar.