New Delhi: With the Gujarat Assembly elections entering its second phase today, Congress sitting MLA Kanti Kharadi from Scheduled Tribes reserved Danta seat in North Gujarat on Monday claimed that he was assaulted by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Ladhu Parghi.
"I was going to my voters. BJP candidate Ladhu Parghi along with L K Barad and his brother Vadan ji were amongst those who attacked us. They were carrying weapons with them and attacked me with swords," Kanti Kharadi told news agency ANI.
"Our vehicles were going through Bamodara four-way, then the BJP candidate blocked our way after that we decided to return, then more people came and attacked us on that side. Whatever happened is unfortunate. I was going to my area as there's an election. I saw that the atmosphere was heated there so I decided to escape," he added.
Kanti Kharadi claimed that he had saved his life from a "BJP goon" by running about 15 km in the dark of the night.
The Congress candidate accused the Election Commission officers of not taking his letter seriously regarding the apprehension of the attack: "I had written a letter four days back but no action has been taken. If the Commission had taken action, this attack would not have happened."
Danta is a seat reserved for Scheduled Tribe communities. BJP has fielded Latubhai Parghi against him. The elections in this seat will be held on Monday along with 92 other constituencies of the state in the second and final phase.
Earlier in the day, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that the sitting MLA from Danta constituency of Banaskantha district Kanti Kharadi has gone missing. In a tweet, on Monday Rahul Gandhi alleged that the tribal leader was attacked by Bharatiya Janata Party goons. "Congress tribal leader and Danta Assembly candidate, Kantibhai Kharadi was brutally attacked by BJP goons and is now missing," Gandhi tweeted.
The Wayanad MP added that the party had asked the Election Commission for the deployment of the paramilitary force but the election body kept "sleeping". He asserted, "BJP must listen - we are not afraid, we will not be afraid, we will fight firmly."
Congress working president and in charge of Banaskantha district for the party Jignesh Mevani accused that Kharadi was attacked by the BJP goons fearing the party's defeat.
"Congress candidate Kantibhai Kharadi from Danta constituency in Banaskantha has been attacked by the goons of BJP -a night before polling fearing their defeat. Is this how free and fair elections would be conducted," Mevani tweeted.
Mevani said the Congress MLA from Danta constituency Kantibhai Kharadi was attacked by the goons of the BJP. “An attempt was made to kill him while intercepting his four-wheeler. The vehicle has turned turtle. Still, Kantibhai Kharadi is missing," he added.
Mevani also shared the letter by Kanta Kharadi written to the Election Commission in the apprehension of the attack.
Hitting out at top cop for not providing security to Congress candidate Kanti Kharadi, MP Shaktisinh Gohil tweeted, "BJP's goons have attacked and kidnapped our Danta MLA and candidate Kantibhai Kharadi. @ECISVEEP Why are you silent? Seeing the defeat, will BJP do anything? MLA had given in writing that give security, still @dgpgujarat why security was not given? What kind of election is this?."
(With inputs from ANI)