Lok Sabha polls 2019: The attacker was dragged out of the media room by BJP workers after the incident
Highlights
- GVL Narasimha Rao was addressing a press conference at party office
- He was speaking to the media on Sadhvi Pragya Thakur's candidature
- The attacker was dragged out of the media room by BJP workers
BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao dodged a shoe thrown at him when he was addressing a press conference at the party office today. The attacker, who identified himself as Shakti Bhargava, was dragged out of the media room by BJP workers after the incident, which was caught on camera.
Mr Rao and his colleague Bhupender Yadav were speaking to the media on Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts who has been named the BJP's candidate for Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal.
The BJP leaders were criticizing the Congress for "defaming" Hindus by registering "false cases" against the saffron-robed Sadhvi Pragya Thakur when the shoe came at them.
The attacker was overpowered and taken away by party workers and handed over to the authorities. After questioning by Delhi Police, he was released without charges. According to an ANI report, the police said "nothing incriminating was found on him and his motive was to gain the media's attention".
The police also said that the BJP had not filed a complaint.
Speaking to IANS after the incident, Mr Rao blamed the shoe missile on a "Congress-inspired person".
He said, "This is a condemnable act by the Congress. This is yet another attempt by a Congress-inspired person who comes here to show the same kind of mentality".
On Wednesday, the BJP confirmed Sadhvi Pragya, as its candidate from the Bhopal seat running against senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh.