Gujarat Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani’s car was damaged after it was allegedly attacked by unidentified men in Palanpur district on Tuesday. Mevani, who was not hurt in the incident, has blamed workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party for the attack.
“I was attacked by BJP supporters in Takarwada village,” the 35-year-old claimed on Twitter. “The BJP is scared, and that’s why they are resorting to such methods. But I am a revolutionary – neither will I get scared, nor will I bow down...I will defeat the BJP.”
He also posted pictures of the damaged glasses of his car.
Mevani is contesting as an independent candidate from Vadgam constituency in the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections. The Congress has said it will back him.
“I am exposing the fake development model that they talk about,” he was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. “That is why instead of talking on issues, they are attacking me. But I have the support of the people of Vadgam and I will keep challenging them.”
In another post, Mevani addressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said: “I am also a son of Gujarat. Please have a big heart, if not a 56-inch chest.”
No police complaint has been filed yet.
BJP spokesperson Jagdish Bhavsar denied that his party was behind the attack on Mevani. “These are false allegations,” he said. “Even our Chief Minister [Vijay Rupani] has said we should celebrate this festival of democracy in the right spirit and not indulge in violence.”
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