Union Agriculture Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar was assaulted here on Wednesday by a youth.
The youth had attacked the former Telecom Minister, Sukh Ram, last week.
The incident occurred as Mr. Pawar, 71, was walking down the steps of a New Delhi Municipal Council auditorium after participating in a literary function. The youth broke away from a group of journalists and hit the Minister on his face. The Maratha strongman lost his balance but quickly regained his composure and walked towards his car.
The youth was identified as Harvinder Singh, a transporter from Rohini. He was overpowered by some journalists and private security guards. Raising anti-corruption slogans, he brandished a sharp object. He was arrested by the Connaught Place police and charged with voluntarily causing hurt, assault, criminal intimidation, using force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty and attempt to commit suicide.
Later, Mr. Pawar told journalists that the youth was shouting that he had a mission to target political leaders. Asked if he had forgiven his attacker, he said: “Who am I to forgive? I am not a judge and I am not saying anything good or bad about him. I have no enemies now nor will I have in the future. I can't say why this attempt was made [on me].''
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was among the first to speak to Mr. Pawar on the phone. “The Prime Minister regrets the increasing tendency to take recourse to violent means to express disagreement,'' said a statement issued by the media adviser to the Prime Minister.
