New Delhi: Journalist Nikhil Wagle’s vehicle was allegedly assaulted by workers of the Pune unit of Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday, February 9 night, when he was on his way – along with fellow activists – to a rally venue in Pune.
Wagle came under attack after his allegedly offensive remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and L.K. Advani after the BJP patriarch was awarded the Bharat Ratna.
According to police, BJP workers threw ink on the car in which Wagle and two others – human rights lawyer Aseem Sarode and activist Vishwambhar Choudhary – were travelling under police protection to the ‘Nirbhay Bano’ event organised by Rashtra Seva Dal. The window panes of the car were shattered as the protestors went unruly, landing blows and throwing various objects as well as eggs and ink.
Wagle, along with Choudhari and Sarode participated in the ‘Nirbhay Bano’ event at Pune’s Sane Guruji Smarak. The BJP’s Pune Unit had opposed the event citing Wagle’s presence at the event while opposition parties including Congress, NCP, and AAP had lent their support.
After the event, Wagle said, according to NDTV, “I forgive all those who attacked me. I have been attacked six times earlier and this was the seventh.”
Speaking to The Wire, Wagle’s son, Parth, that his father was travelling to a public event in Pune when the car was attacked. Two other people, including Pune-based lawyer Asim Sarode were in the car. “The attackers ransacked the car but fortunately all three got out of the car unharmed. Glass shards were lodged all over their clothes,” Parth said. Wagle, who was scheduled to speak at an event, managed to reach the venue and deliver his speech.
An FIR was filed at Pune’s Vishrambaug police station after a local BJP leader, Sunil Deodhar, lodged a complaint against Wagle for reportedly controversial comments against Modi and Advani.
This story was originally published in thewire.in. Read the full story here.