From Swami Agnivesh To Beating Bengal Police; 3 Times BJP Workers Broke Law In The Last Two Days

In just last two days, there have been three separate incidents of violence by BJP party workers and its affiliates. The incidents of violence had put the life and dignity of those attacked under massive danger. These incidents send out a message that these political goons care very less about the age or the position of the person being attacked.

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Shashi Tharoor’s office vandalized

Workers of Bhartiya Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vandalised the office of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in Thiruvananthapuram on July 16. This was apparently done in retaliation to Tharoor’s “Hindu Pakistan” jibe. Tharoor had said that if the current political dispensation continues beyond 2019, India would become “Hindu Pakistan”, meaning that it will turn India into an intolerant majoritarian state just like Pakistan.

The workers poured black oil at the entrance of his office, put up a black flag and a board which said “Tharoor’s Pakistan office”, Hindustan Times reported. Fortunately, neither Tharoor nor anyone else was present at the office at the time of the attack. Police then registered a case against a group of unidentified persons.

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Laughably, some @BJP4India supporters on social media are claiming the vandals weren't @BJYM members at all. Well, they called some media to publicize their vandalism & these pictures show them clearly in the act: pic.twitter.com/OpW2SbNwYJ

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 16, 2018

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Tharoor tweeted about this incident.

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1/2 Today @YUVAMORCHABJP vandals attacked my constituency office in Thiruvananthapuram. They poured black engine oil on signs, doors, walls & gate, drove away innocent citizens waiting with their petitions, put up offensive banners & shouted slogans asking me to go to Pakistan.

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 16, 2018

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2/2 We have all been warned. The BJP’s answer to the simple question “have you given up the dream of a Hindu Rashtra?” is apparently vandalism & violence. That is the face they have shown inThiruvananthapuram today. Most Hindus will say these Sanghi goondas do not represent us.

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 16, 2018

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There was no condemnation from BJP for this act, instead, BJP Thiruvananthapuram district president S Suresh, said, “Workers have every right to vent their anger if they are provoked with such irresponsible statements.”

Earlier too BJP had sought an apology from Mr Tharoor for his remarks, however, he refused to apologize. On July 18, the first day of the monsoon session of Lok Sabha, Tharoor blamed right-wing activists for death threats, attacks and the vandalisation of his office.

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Policemen attacked in Midnapore after PM Modi’s rally

On July 16, BJP workers were caught on camera assaulting police personnel in Midnapore in West Bengal after PM Modi’s “Krishi Kalyan Sabha” rally. Videos show that the BJP activists started beating the police personnel with bamboo sticks. It is being reported that the situation arose as the police were not able to clear roads for the party vehicles to move.

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Dilip Ghosh, the BJP state unit president said, “Whatever is the reason, we don’t support hitting the police officers and I will instruct my party people to avoid such situations. But it was the responsibility of the police officers to control the entire situation”, as reported by Firstpost.

He further added that the police should have made proper arrangements and that the aim was not to indulge in violence, “Had it been so, then there would have been more attacks on the police, along the entire stretch.”

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Attack on 78-year-old Swami Agnivesh

On July 17, social activist Swami Agnivesh was attacked allegedly by BJP Yuva Morcha workers in Pakur, Jharkhand. The 78-year-old was in the state to participate in a program of Adivasis. Slogans of “Jai Sri Ram” and “Go Back Agnivesh” were hurled by the attackers. They pinned him to ground and even tore his clothes. They were apparently angry about Swami Agnivesh’s alleged “anti-Hindu” comments.

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Swami Agnivesh attacked by mob in Jharkhand. Blames BJP youth wing for the attack. BJYM alleges that he was inciting tribals. pic.twitter.com/JxsqJvSEq8

— Aadesh Rawal (@AadeshRawal) July 17, 2018

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“As soon as I came out of the venue, BJYM and ABVP activists attacked me without any provocation. They alleged that I was speaking against Hindus”, Swami Agnivesh was quoted by PTI, as reported by The Wire. He also added that the attackers were carrying black flags and pounced on Swami without any explanation. “I pleaded with them with folded hands… But they didn’t think it was necessary to tell me why they were raining blows on me. They just went on and on”, he told NDTV.

The police have detained 20 people in connection with this incident and are going through CCTV footage to gather more information.

P Shahdeo, BJP state unit spokesperson had vehemently denied the involvement of his party men in the attack.

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They weren't workers of our party. We condemn this but his track record is such that this reaction doesn't come as surprise. Pakur has recently been in news for religious conversion: P Shahdeo, Jharkhand BJP spox on Swami Agnivesh thrashed, allegedly by BJP Yuva Morcha workers pic.twitter.com/QfJj7QwvG9

— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2018

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However, Pakur BJYM president Prasanna Mishra was seen levying allegations against Swami Agnivesh that he has insulted Hindus and fellow countrymen on the world stage.

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The Logical Indian take

Mob violence is probably the biggest evil of our times. More so when the perpetrators of these kinds of attacks live with certain confidence that no harm will befall them no matter how heinous the nature of the crime. This is adequately proved by the fact that BJP has maintained a stoic silence or in some cases even come out in support of these attackers. When cases like these happen, it becomes very difficult for the public to place their faith in law and order.