Violence provoked by BJP workers, says Vikramaditya

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 31

State Youth Congress president Vikramaditya Singh today said he regretted the unfortunate incident that had led to a clash between BJP and Congress workers, but dismissed BJP allegations that it was a part of a pre-planned strategy.

“The clash between BJP and our workers outside the BJP office is very unfortunate and should not have happened, but it is totally wrong to say that it was pre-planned,” he said, addressing a press conference here today.

While maintaining that the provocation came from the BJP’s side when they started throwing stones, he admitted that Youth Congress workers too reacted later resulting in workers from both sides sustaining injuries.

He said the reason for the selection of the BJP office as the venue for holding the dharna against the Land Acquisition Ordinance was as per the directives of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC).

“The BJP office not just in Shimla, but also in Punjab, Haryana and other states was the venue for dharna as per IYC directives so one must not try to attribute motive behind the site selection,” he clarified.

He said nobody anticipated that the situation would turn so ugly and violent and his father Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had also expressed displeasure at the incident. Facing severe flak from the BJP over the violent clash, the Youth Congress president said he welcomed the magisterial inquiry ordered into the incident.

“I am open to inquiry by any agency as we have complete footage of how things happened at the spur of the moment and workers from both sides got involved,” he said. He said he was confident that the Youth Congress would come out clean.

Vikramaditya said he would also appeal to the BJP not to make an issue out of this violent incident.

“I condemn all forms of violence as I am a firm believer of Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent approach and can assure that at least the Youth Congress will always try to avert any situation where there is possibility of violence,” he said. He said violence could never be a solution to any problem and must be shunned.

Court grants him interim-bail

Under attack from the Opposition, Vikramaditya today sought interim bail from the District Court here today. The court granted him bail till February 4. Even though counter FIRs have been registered after the violent clash that took place between Youth Congress activists and BJP workers, no arrests have been made by the police so far.