New Delhi: Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar was on Thursday attacked by a youth claiming to protest against price rise and corruption but the Congress party blamed it on a statement by BJP while there was all-round condemnation of the assault.
Pawar (71), who went to a literary function at a public auditorium on Parliament Street, was caught unawares when he was slapped by Harvinder Singh, a local transporter in his thirties who had recently assaulted former Telecom Minister Sukh Ram outside a court on Saturday after he was sentenced in a corruption case.
Pawar, who has very little security, lost his balance for a moment but regained composure after the assault, moved towards the exit of the auditorium and got into his waiting car.
Private security guards immediately overpowered the youth who was shouting ‘he is corrupt’ and an official landed some blows on Singh, who was arrested and charged with causing hurt, assault and criminal intimidation.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh spoke to Pawar after the incident and condemned the attack. (IANS)
