Convoy Attack: Union Minister SP Singh Baghel Gets Z Category Security; BJP Blames Akhilesh

UP Assembly Election 2022: Baghel is contesting the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls against Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav from the Karhal seat.

Union Minister and BJP leader SP Singh Baghel (File photo: ANI)

New Delhi: Union Minister Satya Pal Singh Baghel has been provided 'Z' category security by the Home Ministry after his convoy was attacked late Tuesday evening in Karhal in the Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh. 

Baghel is contesting the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls against Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav from the Karhal seat. The BJP had alleged on Tuesday that Baghel's convoy was attacked by "SP goons" with stones and sticks near Attikullapur village in Mainpuri district.

However, a report in ANI said the 'Z' category security cover was provided to the Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice on February 11 -- four days before Tuesday's incident. Earlier, Baghel was accorded 'Y+' category CISF security cover.

BJP's Karhal candidate SP Singh Baghel gets Z category security

Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/B1VH5Tl9ET pic.twitter.com/CjLtCXTh1b

— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) February 16, 2022

SP Baghel has lodged a case of murder at Karhal police station. The minister alleged that he and his supporters were going from Kabrai to Karhal on Tuesday evening when SP workers, hiding in the fields, attacked the convoy. 

"Today during election campaigning, when I was travelling from Kabrai via Attikullapur to Karhal, then in between the route, suddenly some people came out from the fields and attacked. They were sloganeering 'Akhilesh bhaiya zindabad when they attacked. They had lathis (sticks) and iron rods," SP Baghel told ANI.

Baghel also said that one of the miscreants fired at his convoy and threatened him not to challenge 'his leader'.

"One person said he is Uma Kant Yadav and said that you are fighting elections against our leader. He further said that today the minister should not be spared and then attacked. When security from my convoy got out of the car, they (attackers) ran. Then, one of them (of the attackers) fired at one of the cars of the convoy," the minister said.

Police confirmed that a case had been registered. Mainpuri Police tweeted on Tuesday, saying, "Union Minister SP Baghel's convoy was attacked with stones and sticks near Attikullapur village that lies under police station Karhal this evening. A case is being registered and the minister is fine".

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya blamed the Samajwadi Party for the attack. "The attack on the convoy of Union Minister S P Singh Baghel, BJP candidate from Mainpuri's Karhal assembly constituency, by Samajwadi Party goons has shown the real character of the party," Maurya said.

श्री अखिलेश यादव जी चुनाव में हार के डर से आपने अपने पालतू गुंडों के द्वारा भाजपा प्रत्याशी केन्द्रीय मंत्री प्रोफ़ेसर SP सिंह बघेल और भाजपा नेताओं पर हमला करवाते हो,आपने हमला नहीं अपनी पराजय सुनिश्चित की है,क्या यही नई सपा है जो आपके ख़िलाफ़ चुनाव लड़े उस पर हमला कराओगे!

— Keshav Prasad Maurya (@kpmaurya1) February 15, 2022

Maurya alleged that Akhilesh Yadav got Baghel and other BJP leaders attacked by "his pet goons" out of the fear of being defeated in his stronghold Karhal.

"With the attack, you have ensured your defeat. Is this the new Samajwadi Party? Will you get those contesting against you attacked?" he tweeted.