Congress, BJP men clash in Ludhiana; 15 hurt

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 11

As many as 15 persons were injured when Youth Congress (YC) and BJP workers today clashed near the Clock Tower, hurling stones and shoes at each other. The injured were admitted to various city hospitals.

The clash occurred after Youth Congress workers staged a protest and tried to lock the BJP office to protest price rise and three farm laws.

The BJP office was barricaded by the police to prevent Congress workers from entering the premises. However, the situation got out of hand after workers from both sides started pelting stones. Heavy police force deployed at the venue tried to contain the situation by resorting to a lathicharge.

Centre to blame

The Centre has not acceded to the genuine demands of farmers. That’s why it was decided to lock the local BJP office. —Yogesh Handa, YC district president

what about scams

It is a bid to divert the attention from alleged swindling of crores of rupees from the sale of property by the Improvement Trust. Ashwani Sharma, Punjab BJP chief

Yogesh Handa, YC district president, said: “Our plan was to lock the local BJP office to protest rising prices and show solidarity with farmers. For nearly a year, the Centre has not acceded to the genuine demands of farmers. That’s why it was decided to lock the local BJP office.”

District BJP president Pushpinder Singhal claimed Congress workers started pelting them with stones, injuring party workers. “One of them even lost his eyesight. We are not frightened. We will give an apt reply,” said Singhal.

District Congress president Ashwani Sharma said their protest was peaceful. “In the past too, protests have been held over inflation, but today BJP workers pelted our workers with stones in which four party men got injured. What has happened is uncalled for as holding peaceful protest is our right,” he said after enquiring about the health of party workers at the hospital.

Later, Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma reached Ludhiana to check on the injured party workers. Sharma said there was no law and order in the state. “It is bid to divert the attention from alleged swindling of crores of rupees from the sale of public property by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust through e-auction. We won’t be silenced by such acts,” he added.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.