Congress leader Anand Sharma ‘attacked’

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma on Saturday night alleged that he was attacked physically by ABVP activists in the JNU campus when he was returning with party vice-president Rahul Gandhi after attending a protest meeting held by students there.

Mr Sharma, deputy leader of the Congress in the Rajya Sabha, said that the SPG had to take Mr Gandhi out by an alternate vehicle as the alleged attackers had surrounded the vehicle of the Congress vice-president as well.

The “attack” took place some distance away from the place where the meeting was held at the varsity campus with the ABVP activists using “cover of the darkness,” he claimed.

“There was a bleeding from my left ear following the attack and I also suffered some cuts,” Mr Sharma said, adding his personal security officer too was “pushed from behind” by the attackers.

The former Union minister said he was a “few steps” behind Mr Gandhi. He said his PSO has lodged a complaint with the police.

“Differ with us, but you have no right to attack us,” he said, while slamming his attackers. The Congress condemned the attack and demanded strict action against those involved in it. The government should act against anti-nationals but can’t brand JNU as anti-national, it said.