Kangana Ranaut’s carcade 'pelted with stones' in Lahaul-Spiti’s Kaza, BJP complains Election Commission

Mandi/Shimla, May 20

Congress workers on Monday showed black flags to BJP candidate from Mandi parliamentary constituency Kangana Ranaut at Kaza in Lahaul and Spiti district.

She was accompanied by Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur and BJP candidate from Lahaul and Spiti Assembly Ravi Thakur and other local leaders.

Upon reaching Kaza, the Bollywood actress had to face agitated Congress workers who raised “Kangana Ranaut go back” slogan at a rally.

Former CM Jai Ram Thakur alleged that one person was injured after Congress workers pelted stones at the carcade of Kangana. A clash also took place between Congress workers and BJP workers, he said.

Thakur condemned the act of Congress workers and raised fingers on the functioning of local authorities.

He said when the BJP had already taken permission for a public meeting at Kaza, then why the Congress was allowed to take out a protest rally close to the venue of BJP meeting. The protesters not only created disturbance at our function but also pelted Kangana carcade with stones, Thakur claimed.

He said this has happened for the first time in Himachal that stones were pelted at the carcade of a candidate during poll campaigning.

Keylong DSP Rajkumar said that no formal complaint was received yet from the BJP in this regard. We have asked them to provide digital evidence, if any, and action will be taken accordingly, he added.

Meanwhile, the BJP filed a complaint to the ECI regarding the attack on a party worker while terming it as a “premeditated plan” of the Congress.

In its complaint, the saffron party also sought enhancement of security protocol at political events.

Blaming the district administration for the incident, the BJP termed the showing of flags to the procession of Mandi candidate Kangana Ranaut and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur as a ‘life threatening’ attack by Congress workers, putting to risk the lives of participants at the BJP rally.

The party also demanded immediate transfer of the election agency from Lahaul-Spiti, stating that giving permission to both the parties at adjacent sites was a major lapse.