Farrukhabad:
Despite elaborate security arrangements, supporters of activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal clashed today in Farrukhabad this afternoon with Congressmen.
Mr Kejriwal is in Farrukhabad, the constituency of External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, for a rally where he wants to highlight corruption charges against the minister and his wife.
The windows of a car were smashed by Congress workers as it headed towards the rally ground. The car was transporting members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, an organisation of famers that is supporting Mr Kejriwal.
En route to Farrukhabad, Mr Kejriwal's convoy had also been stopped by the minister's supporters.
Protesters wearing caps with the legend "Main hoon Salman Khurshid" (I am Salman Khurshid) and waving black flags blocked the road. The police intervened and allowed Mr Kejriwal to continue his journey.
The minister, who is in Delhi, refused to comment on Mr Kejriwal's rally today.
But when Mr Kejriwal first announced his plans to travel to Mr Khurshid turf in Uttar Pradesh, the minister warned, "Let him go. But we will see how he comes back." Then, this week, his supporters threatened to "blacken" Mr Kejriwal's face. Yesterday, as local officials announced that hundreds of policemen would be on guard, the local Congress toned down its warning. "We will expose his wrongdoings," a Congress leader said.
Mr Kejriwal has been demanding Mr Khurshid's removal since a TV channel last month carried a report that said an NGO run by Mr Khurshid's wife had embezzled lakhs of rupees meant for the differently-abled.