Journalist Nikhil Wagle’s car attacked in Pune over critical remarks about PM Modi and Advani

Journalist Nikhil Wagle’s car was attacked by BJP workers in Pune on Friday while he was on his way to attend an event, officials said. Workers allegedly protested against Advani’s remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and LK Advani after he received the Bharat Ratna Award.

A Deccan Police official said the BJP workers hurled ink at the car carrying Wagle, along with Aseem Sarode and Vishwamhar Chau Vishwambhar Choudhary, who was traveling under police protection to attend the ‘Nirbhay Bano’ event organized by Rashtra Seva Dal in Sinhad. Road area.

Television footage showed BJP workers surrounding the car at Khandoji Baba Chowk, vandalizing it and causing damage to the windshield and side windows.

Despite the incident, Wagle managed to reach the event with police protection, the official added. Speaking at the ‘Nirbhay Bano’ event, Wagle said: “I forgive everyone who attacked me. This is the seventh time I have been attacked; I have been attacked six times before.”

Earlier in the day, workers of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party Shiv Sena and opposition leader Maha Vikas Aghadi had a standoff outside the Rashtra Seva Dal building, with protesters trying to prevent Vagle from speaking at the event.

A case was subsequently filed against Vagel for allegedly making remarks attacking the Prime Minister and Advani. “Nikhil Wagle has been booked at Vishram Bhog police station under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 500 (defamation) and 505 (causing enmity between different groups) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) A case has been registered for public mischief. We are investigating the matter further,” the official said.

Senior BJP leader Sunil Deodhar said he had lodged a complaint with the Vishram Borg police station on Tuesday over the 64-year-old journalist’s controversial remarks.

The senior scribe made allegedly defamatory remarks against Modi and Advani on social media platform X after the Center announced that the latter would be conferred with India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna.

The Pune BJP has also asked the police to deny permission for the ‘Nirbhay Bano’ event. Pune city Shiv Sena president Pramod Bhangire said they were not opposed to the event, just Wagle’s participation. “We condemn Vagle’s remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP veteran LK Advani. His remarks in social media posts have created a rift between communities,” Bangir said.

(Based on input from each agency)