Navjot Singh Sidhu convoy attacked in Jammu

The attackers were annoyed with Sidhu over his recent remark on their religious book, police said.

A group of agitated Sikhs attacking the vehicle of cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu over his alleged controversial remarks at Bhor Camp in Jammu on Thursday.

BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhu’s convoy was on Thursday attacked by unidentified assailants who pelted the cars with bricks and stones, leaving his driver injured at Bhor camp, on the outskirts of Jammu city, police said.

The cricketer-turned politician was campaigning in the Bhor camp area for the party candidate from Gandhi Nagar Kavinder Gupta in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, when some unknown persons hurled stones and bricks at his vehicle. The BJP leader, however, escaped unhurt, a senior police officer said.

The attackers were annoyed with Sidhu over his recent remark on their religious book, police said, adding, two persons have been detained in this connection.

“The vehicle has been badly damaged. Driver Parveen Singh was injured in the incident and has been hospitalised. Sidhu had a narrow escape,” BJP spokesperson and war room-incharge Arun Gupta said.

Blaming Congress for the attack, he said, “We condemn this attack. It is Congress’s and its MLA’s frustration due to the growing popularity of BJP not only in this constituency, but in the entire State.”

“The attackers were supporters of local Congress MLA who is frustrated with the possible poll outcome. They were raising slogans in favour of the Congress MLA,” Gupta alleged.

Sidhu has cancelled his rally at Bhor Camp and has set out for campaigning at other places, the spokesperson said.

This is the second attack on Sidhu in the last three days in the constituency, where Raman Bhalla is the Congress candidate.

Earlier, some people had pelted stones on him at Digiana when he was returning to Jammu after addressing a rally there.