Swaraj Party leader and political activist Yogendra Yadav was attacked by a mob in Akola, Maharashtra on Monday. Yogendra Yadav claimed that a crowd of 40-50 people stormed the stage to stop him from speaking. Although the police arrived after some time, the program was stopped midway.
In a video posted on Twitter, Yogendra Yadav described the attack on him and his colleagues from the Bharat Jodo campaign as a “serious concern for democracy lovers”. He reported that the group was discussing “the Constitution and protecting our vote” when the crowd stormed the stage.
“Despite police intervention, the attackers continued their vandalism and the event had to be cancelled,” Yadav said in Hindi.
Expressing his disappointment he said, “In 25 years of speaking across Maharashtra, I have never encountered such an incident. This is tragic for democracy, but it strengthens our resolve.”
Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi Mob attacked Yogendra Yadav?
Swaraj Party leader Ogendra Yadav claimed that he was attacked by a mob belonging to the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA). Speaking to reporters, Yadav recalled the incidents, saying, “I don’t know anyone, but local associates have taken 24 names. They are people of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi. One of our colleagues asked why did you guys do this? Then a man said that this is the order of ‘Sir’. I don’t know who ‘Sir’ is.”
Expressing shock over the attack, Yadav said, “I am very surprised if the people of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi have done this.” Yogendra Yadav is a very small man; You have not attacked him, you have attacked Baba Saheb’s Constitution, you have attacked the democracy about which you keep talking day and night and you have embarrassed your leader Prakash Ambedkar.
He said, “There is no doubt that Prakash Ambedkar and we have different thinking, but such an attack will be carried out because of differences; This is beyond my imagination. At least I do not consider Prakash Ambedkar as a person who can commit such an act.
VBA denies attacking Yogendra Yadav
In response, supporters of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi reportedly disrupted the program expressing dissatisfaction over comments made about Bhimrao Ambedkar and reservation policies.
A VBA post claimed that the mob had asked challenging questions to Yadav and activist Ulka Mahajan about Congress’s alleged anti-reservation actions after the elections, despite support from marginalized communities.
VBA-affiliated newspaper Prabuddha Bharat said, “Congress took the votes of Buddhists, Dalits, tribals, Muslims, OBCs to defeat BJP, but Congress is doing the work of BJP.” Unable to give proper answers to any of these questions, people of Maharashtra Democratic Front and Bharat Jodi Abhiyan tried to silence those asking questions. However, Yogendra Yadav and Ulka Mahajan withdrew from the program due to not getting answers to any of the questions.
