Mob Tries To Attack AIMIM Ex-MP Imtiaz Jaleel In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Ex- MP Imtiaz Jaleel claimed that the alleged attackers have links with the BJP leaders
Mumbai: AIMIM leader and former MP Imtiaz Jaleel’s vehicle was allegedly attacked by unidentified miscreants on Wednesday afternoon while he was campaigning in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. The incident occurred in the Baijipura area when Mr. Jaleel was taking out a foot march ahead of the municipal corporation polls.
The AIMIM alleged that the attack was orchestrated by Congress candidate Kaleem Qureshi, a charge denied by the Congress, which countered that Mr. Jaleel had staged the incident to gain public sympathy.
The incident comes amid heightened political tension in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar ahead of the civic elections. Mr. Qureshi is contesting simultaneously from Ward 9 as a candidate of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) and from Ward 14 as a Congress nominee. Sources said Mr. Jaleel and Mr. Qureshi share a long-standing rivalry, following which the latter quit the AIMIM and joined the Congress.
According to witnesses, some protesters waved black flags at the rally and later attempted to stop Mr. Jaleel’s Thar vehicle, hurling eggs at it.
According to reports, the former MP reached the Jinsi area for a foot march. After the march moved ahead a short distance, Congress candidate Kaleem Qureshi arrived with his supporters. As soon as both groups came face to face, the police stopped them. Sloganeering began from both sides. As the matter was escalating, Jaleel left the foot march midway and departed in the car. Congress supporters allegedly chased the vehicle and attacked it.
Mr. Jaleel said the rally was being conducted with police permission and was proceeding peacefully when 20–25 persons allegedly attacked the procession in the presence of the police. “They tried to break my vehicle. One person from my side was injured,” he said, alleging that nearly 100 persons chased his vehicle.
The protesters also clashed with AIMIM party workers, accompanying Mr. Jaleel. Police intervened and lathi-charged the crowd to disperse the two sides. “We have used appropriate force to control the situation. There were 30-35 people in the mob. The police have started the process to register an offence. The area is now peaceful,” a police official said.
The AIMIM leader further claimed that the attackers were also backed by BJP minister Atul Save and Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat. Rejecting the allegations, Mr. Qureshi said Mr. Jaleel’s public support was declining and alleged that the AIMIM leader had staged the incident himself.
The AIMIM has denied tickets to 22 former corporators. Similarly, party workers who did not receive tickets are also dissatisfied. Discontent against AIMIM has surfaced at several places.
Mr. Shirsat dismissed the claims, calling Mr. Jaleel a “fraud” and a “blackmailer,” and said the protesters were expressing anger over alleged distribution of tickets. “He is reaping what he has sown,” the minister said.
