NCP claims girl member attacked by BJP staff at Irani’s occasion; Congress protests worth rise

By PTI

PUNE: The NCP Pune metropolis unit on Monday alleged an office-bearer of the get together was assaulted by BJP staff inside an auditorium throughout a face-off between the 2 sides when Union Cabinet minister Smriti Irani was attending a guide launch occasion on the venue right here on Monday night.

Police stated a probe was on into the alleged incident.

Congress and NCP staff staged protests towards worth rise outdoors a luxurious resort and the Bal Gandharva auditorium, the place Irani attended occasions throughout her go to to town.

The two events are constituents of the Shiv Sena-led MVA authorities in Maharashtra.

“One of our party functionaries, Vaishali Nagawade, was assaulted by BJP workers inside the auditorium when she and others went to give a memorandum (to the minister),” claimed Prashant Jagtap, Pune metropolis NCP president.

Some NCP members staff went to the Deccan Gymkhana police station to register an offence towards BJP activists, he stated.

Speaking to reporters, Nagawade stated the incident passed off when she together with different NCP staff went to submit a memorandum to Irani over the LPG worth hike.

Senior NCP chief Ankush Kakade stated when the BJP was in opposition on the Centre earlier than 2014, Irani used to aggressively elevate the worth rise situation and his get together was doing the identical now.

“When Irani was in a hotel for some event, our women party workers requested her to accept a memorandum but she refused. As a result, our women workers staged an intense agitation outside the hotel,” he stated.

Kakade stated the guide launch occasion on the auditorium, organised by the BJP, was open to all.

“Our four party functionaries, including Vaishali Nagawade, had gone inside the auditorium. Some BJP workers said they are from NCP and started heckling them, and assaulted Nagawade. Had the police not intervened in time, things would have turned really ugly,” he stated.

Kakade stated the police ought to examine the incident completely and take stringent motion towards the culprits.

Murlidhar Karpe, senior inspector, Deccan police station, stated 4 ladies staff of the NCP had come to attend the programme and so they had been recognized by BJP staff which led to some stress.

He stated these ladies had been escorted out by police after commotion contained in the auditorium.

Asked about allegations of heckling and assault, Karpe stated a probe was on.

Congress staff staged protests and shouted slogans towards the Centre over the worth rise situation throughout the go to of Irani.

“Around 12 noon, Pune city women Congress committee members staged a protest (outside the hotel) over inflation and rising prices of LPG. Since the central government has failed to check inflation in the country, the women members had gone to present bangles to Union minister Smriti Irani,” stated a celebration functionary.

The protesting Congress members had been detained by police and later launched, he stated.

Later within the night, Congress activists held an indication over hovering costs of important items outdoors the Bal Gandharva auditorium.

Pune metropolis Congress president Ramesh Bagwe stated, “We shouted slogans against the rising prices and showed placards standing outside the auditorium.”

Irani attended the discharge of Marathi model of a guide on the political journey of Union Home Minister and senior BJP chief Amit Shah.

The English model of the guide is titled ‘Amit Shah and the March of BJP’.