Shouting “Bharat mata ki jai,” a former Aam Aadmi Party worker smeared black ink on senior leader Yogendra Yadav’s face during an event at Jantar Mantar here on Saturday.
Mr. Yadav was on the stage addressing the media when Sagar Bhandari, sporting a white cap, came from behind and blackened his face. He was later pulled away and thrashed by AAP workers.
The AAP leader said this was bound to happen as his party had taken on “powerful forces.”
Yogendra asks police, AAP workers to ignore attack on him
Aam Aadmi Party leader Yogendra Yadav has asked the police not to file charges against Sagar Bhandari, a former party employee, who attacked him during an event at Jantar Mantar here on Saturday.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Madhur Verma said: “Mr. Yadav has given us in writing that he does not want any legal action against Sagar and, given a chance, he would want to talk to Sagar to address his differences with the party.”
The police could not record Sagar’s statement as he was not in a condition to speak following the thrashing he received at the hands of AAP workers, Mr. Verma said, adding that there were bruises on his body. He has been admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, the police said.
Mr. Yadav appealed to party workers and supporters to show restraint in the face of “an act of cowardice.” “I am not embarrassed by the ink on my face; it is just an act of cowardice. Request all #AAP supporters to ignore,” he tweeted.
