Ex-MLA faces chilli attack in SAD-BJP clash

Jaswinder Singh Baidwan

Akhran da mureed
Staff member
Former Batala BJP MLA Jagdish Sahni was today attacked with red chilli powder after a meeting of the Batala Municipal Committee (MC) was cancelled by MC president Naresh Mahajan without specifying any reason.
Soon after the meeting was called off, many Akali workers and councillors walked up to Sahni’s office, 50 metres from the MC office, but were asked to wait outside the main gate. As soon as Sahni, accompanied by two BJP workers, came out to meet them, chilli powder was thrown into their eyes. Though Sahni, who had also served as the Chief Parliamentary Secretary, sustained minor injuries as he was wearing sunglasses, his two colleagues were seriously injured and were hospitalised. The situation was brought under control after Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harpreet Singh sent two DSP-rank officers — Jagwinder Singh and Kirpal Singh — to the spot.
SAD councillors, all of whom are loyalists of Batala constituency head and former MLA LS Lodhinangal, had got infuriated after Mahajan, who is a BJP councillor, adjourned the House without mentioning any reason.
SAD (city) president Balbir Singh Bittu led the team who raised slogans against Mahajan. Nearly half a dozen councillors owing allegiance to Batala BJP chief Suresh Bhatia could also be seen supporting the SAD councillors inside the MC house following which Mahajan decided to leave the venue. In Batala, the BJP is split into two groups — one led by Mahajan and another by Bhatia.
Executive officer MS Randhawa tried to diffuse the situation but by then Mahajan and his supporters had decided to go to Sahni’s office.
Akali leaders, too, started marching towards Sahni’s office claiming that Mahajan did not allow them to meet Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi a few days ago.
Sahni had come to the gate of his office in a mistaken notion to pacify the agitating Akalis, whose strength had increased by now. Later, Sahni and his supporters marched to the SSP’s office demanding action against Lodhinangal claiming he instigated SAD workers.
 
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