Ahmedabad: A scuffle erupted between BJP and Congress workers outside the Sola Bhagwat Vidyapith on SG highway here today evening.

Gujarat Gau Seva Aayog vice chairman Chaitanya Shambhu Maharaj had announced to sit on 48 hours fast at Sola Vidyapith starting from 5.00 pm today against cow slaughter in public in Youth Congress protest programme in Kerala.

Maharaj’s supporters that include BJP leaders and cadre were present at Sola Vidyapith in the evening when a group of Congress workers, led by former city Mayor Himmatsinh and city Congress president Chetan Raval arrived there. They arrived with a banner in hand with text: kick out the BJP and save cows.

Scuffle, verbal argument and stone pelting erupted between Congress and ‘cow lovers’ briefly in absence of police. ‘Cow lovers’ said Congress men were unwanted here and there was no need for them to come here with provocative banner and slogans. Here is the programme against what Congress party had done in Kerala.

Former city Mayor and BJP councilor Amit Shah was part of the clash between two groups. Due to strong protest by fast programme participants/supporters, the Congress group had to drop the plan to enter the fast programme venue.

Speaking to media persons, Chetan Raval said Congress workers had come here to extend their support to Chaitanya Shambhu Maharaj’s fast programme, while former Mayor Himmatsinh in separate talk to media said Congress workers were here to oppose the programme. Both Chetan Raval and Himmatsinh fumbled while speaking to media persons and in slip of tongue said Congress party supports slaughter of cows.

Later police arrived and took away Himmatsinh, Chetan Rawal and others.

BJP leader KC Patel who was present here showed a banner which ‘cow lovers’ had snatched away from the Congress group. Patel said Congress first slaughtered a cow and now claims that BJP should be ousted to save cow. Patel said Congress persons had come here to attack the fast event but they were prevented to come closer.

BJP Councillor Jignesh Patel alleged that anti-social elements from Congress had arrived here to pelt stones and disturb the protest programme. Youth Congress leader Indravijaysinh Gohil said the Congress group had come here to seek answer on BJP’s deeds from Chaitanya Shambhu Maharaj who has put blot on late Shambhu Maharaj’s name.

More inputs

At least 5 people are said to have sustained minor injuries while cloths of some have been also been torn during the scuffle.

Expressing anger and sadness over the incident Shambhu Maharaj said that the event was completely ‘apolitical’ and was meant for the message of cow-protection.

‘If the ‘fallen’ Congress, which was desperate and disappointing and showed its ‘distorted’ mentality by killing a cow, which was a matter of devotion for crores of Hindus, in open, won’t mend its ways then strong agitation will be started against it,’ he said.

He said that there was no restriction on the entry of leaders of any political party at the venue but what happened had made him angry. ‘We have not put the flag or banner of any political party at the site, the picture of cow and Gandhiji are here one can see. We as Hindu saints are entitled to protest the killing of cows. If we don’t do it, we can’t expect Maulvis and Christian Priests to protest it,’ he said.

During the pre-anounced event, some Congress leaders including Chetan Rawal, Dinesh Sharma had also arrived who were welcomed by others including BJP leader and former Mayor Amit Shah. But soon after that some Congress activists, said to be NSUI members came there with placard with slogans like ‘BJP hatao, Gai Bachao’ (Remove BJP, Save Cows). They were also shouting slogans.

DeshGujarat