New Delhi: Former Uttar Pradesh Minister and Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya alleged that his convoy was attacked by BJP workers while he was campaigning for the state election, PTI reported.
Swami Prasad Maurya is fighting the UP election from Fazilnagar constituency in the Kushinagar district. He quit the BJP just before election was announced.
Kushinagar District Magistrate S Rajalingam said Maurya's convoy of around 25 came across a procession of BJP supporters near Phulwaria.
"There were allegations of sloganeering and stone pelting. Some video clips showed the windows of some vehicles of Maurya's convoy damaged," PTI quoted the DM as saying.
"FIRs will be lodged and a probe ordered after getting complaints from both sides," the DM further said.
He said the procession of BJP workers was allowed to proceed first as it had taken permission for it. The SP candidate was allowed to take only one vehicle along with his car, PTI quoted the DM as saying.
Maurya alleged that the BJP workers, armed with lathis and stones, attacked his convoy near Vishupura Khanwa Patti village in Fazilnagar assembly constituency during his roadshow.
He claimed many of his workers were injured and several vehicles damaged. Maurya said his driver also suffered injuries even as he escaped unharmed as he was sitting in a different vehicle.
"The attack was the part of a planned conspiracy. The BJP people attacked us armed with sticks, arms and stones in a systematic manner," PTI quoted Maurya as saying.
"My driver's ear got damaged. Many vehicles were damaged and hundreds of our workers were beaten up. I was sitting in another vehicle, hence it moved ahead," he said.
Fazilnagar constituency goes to polls on March 3 during the sixth phase of the seven-phase UP assembly election.
Swami Maurya's daughter Sanghmitra Maurya, who is a BJP MP, also supported her father's allegation.
Accusing the BJP candidate of being behind the attack, she said, "The damaged vehicles are proof of the attack. Not only this. When I was coming to Fazilnagar after hearing about the attack, the BJP workers surrounded my car too even though I am a BJP MP."
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav condemned the alleged attack and vowed to "reduce the BJP to zero in the remaining two phases of the elections".
"The attack on Swami Prasad Mauryaji is a very condemnable act of the people who are losing," he tweeted.
"This attack is similar to the attack on the workers and the leaders of every party of the SP alliance. Together we will answer this by reducing the BJP to zero in the remaining two phases. It is meaningless to expect any action from this government," Akhilesh further said.