My son has no political links: Mother of Gujarat man held for attack on Delhi CM Rekha Gupta

The mother of a Gujarat man, accused of attacking Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, on Wednesday claimed her son was not affiliated to any political party and had gone to the national capital to protest against the Supreme Court's order on stray dogs.

CM Gupta was attacked during a 'Jan Sunwai' programme at her camp office in Delhi's Civil Lines on Wednesday morning, her office said.

According to a senior police officer, the accused was detained and was being interrogated.

Sources in Delhi BJP said the attacker first gave the Chief Minister some papers during the public hearing and then allegedly attacked her.

The accused has been identified as Rajesh Sakaria (41), who resided with his wife, son and parents at Gokul Park on Kotharia Road in Gujarat's Rajkot city.

After he was taken into custody, the Rajkot police reached his residence and questioned his mother Bhanuben Sakaria.

Later talking to reporters, Bhanuben claimed her son, who is an auto-rickshaw driver, was not affiliated to any political party.

She further claimed her son is an animal lover, who went to Delhi to take part in a protest against the recent Supreme Court order to relocate all stray dogs from streets of the national capital to shelters.

“He loves dogs, cows and birds. That is why he was upset after the SC said all the stray dogs in Delhi should be captured. He went to Haridwar a few days back and then told us over phone that he will go to Delhi to participate in protests in support of dogs,” she said.

“That's all he told us over the phone when we asked when he would return,” Bhanuben said.

Meanwhile, some sources claimed that Sakaria had gone to the public meeting to seek the Chief Minister’s help regarding the arrest of a relative. However, an official statement from the police on the claims are still awaited.— with PTI inputs