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Swaraj Party leader Yogendra Yadav was allegedly manhandled by a mob in Maharastra's Akola on Monday. He claimed that they were the people of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi.
Yadav said it is beyond "my imagination" that the attackers were allegedly from the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, citing that 24 names were identified by local colleagues. He emphasized that the attack wasn't just on him, but on the Constitution and democracy. While addressing a press conference after the attack, the Swaraj Party leader said, "I do not know anyone, but local colleagues have taken 24 names. They are people of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi. One of our colleagues asked why did you people do this? Then man said it was the order of the 'sahab', I do not know who the 'sahab' is. But if the people of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi have done this then I am very surprised." "Yogendra Yadav is a very small man, you have not attacked him, you have attacked the constitution of Baba Saheb, you have attacked the democracy which you keep on talking about day and night and you have shamed your leader Prakash Ambedkar," he added. Yadav questioned the motivations behind the attack, highlighting that differences in opinion with Prakash Ambedkar, the leader of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, wouldn't justify such violence. "There is no doubt that Prakash Ambedkar's line of thinking and ours are different but such an attack would be carried out due to differences of opinion, it is beyond my imagination. I at least do not consider Prakash Ambedkar to be a person who can carry out such an act," he said. Further in a post on X, Yadav called the attack on him and his colleagues of Bharat Jodo Abhiyan a "grave concern for democracy lovers." "The attack on me and my colleagues of Bharat Jodo Abhiyan in Akola (Maharashtra) today is a matter of grave concern for every democracy lover. As part of the 'Vidarbha' tour of Bharat Jodo Abhiyan, we were holding a conference on the topic 'Protection of Constitution and our vote', when a mob of 40-50 people climbed on the stage and moved towards me to stop me from speaking," he wrote on X. "We remained seated and local colleagues formed a circle and protected us. Even after the police arrived, the rioters continued to attack and vandalize. The meeting ended there," Yadav added. Expressing concern over the incident, the Swaraj Party leader said, "In the last 25 years, I have given lectures at many places in Maharashtra, but this has never happened before. This is sad not only for Maharashtra but also for those who believe in the Constitution and democracy. This incident further strengthens our dedication towards protecting our democracy. Whoever is scared of what I say, listen - I will come back to Akola!" Elections in Maharashtra will be held on November 20, while the counting of votes will take place on November 23. (ANI)
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