Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has been hospitalised after she was attacked during a public hearing at her residence this morning. A man, said to be in his 40s, approached the Chief Minister during a ‘Jansunwai’ and attacked her. The Chief Minister’s security personnel immediately caught the attacker, who had disguised himself as a complainant at the public meeting, and he is now being questioned.
The Chief Minister has been rushed to the hospital and top officers of Delhi Police have rushed to her residence to secure the premises. According to preliminary information, the attacker has been identified as Rajesh Sakaria, originally from Rajkot in Gujarat.
To address public concerns, the Chief Minister attends a ‘Jansunwai’ meeting at her residence every week. Senior BJP leader Harish Khurana said, “One person present at the meeting attacked the Chief Minister. Right now, doctors are examining the Chief Minister. We condemn the attack. It should be investigated if this attack was politically motivated.”
Eyewitnesses have said the attacker came with some papers and approached the Chief Minister. He was talking to her and suddenly attacked her.
The BJP has said it suspects a political conspiracy behind the attack. Delhi minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said rivals cannot tolerate the Chief Minister’s work on the ground and an investigation is on to find out who is behind the attacker.
Former Chief Minister and opposition Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) leader Atishi has condemned the attack and said there is no place for violence in a democracy. “The attack on Delhi’s Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is highly condemnable. In a democracy, there is a place for disagreement and protest, but there is no place for violence. Hoping that the Delhi Police will take the strictest action against the culprits. It is hoped that the Chief Minister is completely safe,” said Ms Atishi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly.
According to sources in the Delhi Police, an inquiry will be conducted to find what led to this big security breach. Delhi Police Commissioner SBK Singh will monitor this probe.
