Hoshiarpur, September 16:- Protests over the alleged vandalism of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s statue in Barian Kalan village of Hoshiarpur district turned violent on Tuesday. During a tribute meeting, BJP and BSP workers came face to face. Initially, sharp slogans were raised, followed by a dispute over the microphone on the stage, and soon intense pushing and physical clashes broke out between the two sides. Senior BJP leader Vijay Sampla was also involved in the altercation.
According to eyewitnesses, BSP workers and villagers who were already present in the village were raising slogans against the BJP. Meanwhile, Vijay Sampla reached the stage and allegedly tried to take the microphone to present his views. The dispute escalated from there and the situation went completely out of control.
Sampla’s Allegation: “I Was Not Allowed to Speak; I Was Attacked When I Tried to Take the Microphone”
Vijay Sampla said that he had reached the spot only to protest against the alleged desecration of Baba Saheb’s statue and wanted to respond to people’s questions, but he was not given the microphone. He alleged that he was attacked while trying to take the microphone.
BSP Hits Back: “It Was Our Protest; BJP Disrupted the Atmosphere”
BSP Punjab President Avtar Singh Karimpuri hit back at the BJP, saying that it was a BSP programme and the BJP should not have intervened there. He alleged that tension escalated when Vijay Sampla tried to take the microphone from a worker.
Police Take Charge, CCTV Examination Begins
DSP Bharat Bhushan said that the police reached the spot, separated the two sides and brought the situation under control. Additional police personnel have been deployed at the statue site, and the cases of vandalism and the clash are being investigated on the basis of CCTV footage.