
No place for violence in democratic system: Kejriwal condemns attack on Delhi CM
Taking to X, former Delhi CM Kejriwal said, "The attack on Delhi's Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is highly condemnable. In a democratic system, differences of opinion and opposition are acceptable, but there can be no place for violence."
"I am confident that the Delhi Police will take appropriate action. I hope the Chief Minister is completely safe and healthy," he added.
Chief Minister Gupta was attacked during the weekly Jan Sunvai at her official residence in Civil Lines on Wednesday. The police have arrested the attacker and are interrogating him. However, the reason for the attack is unclear.
The man who attacked Delhi Chief Minister Gupta was identified as Rajesh Bhai Khimji Bhai Sakariya, a resident of Gujarat's Rajkot, sources said.
The Delhi Police has contacted the Gujarat Police regarding the same, they added.
According to sources, 41-year-old Rajesh told the police that he hails from Rajkot.
The police are interrogating the man to ascertain the cause of the attack.
This incident is being viewed as a significant lapse in her security. Additionally, the Delhi Police will conduct an internal inquiry into how the incident occurred despite tight security.
Sources told IANS that Rajesh, during the weekly public hearing, suddenly came out and hurled a heavy object at the Chief Minister.
According to preliminary unverified information, the attacker shouted at the Chief Minister, slapped her, and began abusing her. There was a serious scuffle involving the Chief Minister.
Rajesh handed some papers to the chief minister and referred to a court case before assaulting her, as per some unverified reports.
Currently, the Chief Minister is being monitored by a doctor, after which it will be clear how many injuries she has suffered, said sources.
Following the incident, security has been stepped up at the Chief Minister's residence.
Top officials of the Delhi Police are present at the spot, and an investigation is underway.
According to the police, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) has reached CM Gupta's residence.
More details are awaited.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


NDTV
16 minutes ago
- NDTV
After Rekha Gupta Slapped, A Look At Past Attacks On Delhi Chief Ministers
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was assaulted during a public hearing programme at her Civil Lines camp office on Wednesday morning, in what her office described as a "well-planned conspiracy to kill her." The attack took place around 8.15 am, police said. The accused, identified as 41-year-old Sakriya Rajeshbhai Khimjibhai, a resident of Rajkot in Gujarat, has been detained and is being questioned. "A person attacked Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during 'Jan Sunwai' today. Delhi Police has detained the accused and is questioning him," the Chief Minister's Office confirmed in a statement. Citing CCTV footage, police suggested the attack had been planned in advance. Footage from Ms Gupta's Shalimar Bagh residence reportedly showed the accused conducting surveillance of the premises at least 24 hours before the incident. Past Attacks on Delhi Chief Ministers The incident adds to a series of attacks on Delhi's chief ministers in the past: November 30, 2024 - Former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had water thrown at him during a padyatra in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar. The attacker, identified as Ashok Jha, was detained after being caught by Mr Kejriwal's supporters and security personnel. The AAP alleged Mr Jha was a BJP worker. Mr Kejriwal urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to act against rising crime in the capital. May 4, 2019 - Mr Kejriwal was slapped during a roadshow in the Moti Nagar area. He was standing on an open jeep when a man identified as Suresh, a 33-year-old spare parts dealer, attacked him. The attacker was beaten by AAP supporters before being taken into police custody. The AAP accused the BJP of encouraging such attacks. October 5, 2016 - In Bikaner, Rajasthan, ink was thrown at Mr Kejriwal during a condolence meeting. Police arrested Dinesh Ojha, a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student organisation linked to the BJP. Witnesses said Ojha accused Mr Kejriwal of being "anti-national." October 12, 2012 - Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit faced protests by India Against Corruption activists during a public event in the Nand Nagri area. A slipper was thrown in her direction, but fell short. The activists, protesting against price rises and higher power tariffs, also showed black flags and squatted in front of her convoy. Police detained seven protesters but later released them.


Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Delhi CM attacked: AAP rejects BJP's 'fake' photo of attacker; calls MLA Harish Khurana 'petty troll'
NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday rejected the Bharatiya Janata Party 's claim that Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta's attacker is linked with AAP and alleged the saffron party edited the original video and posted fake photos. BJP MLA Harish Khurana had posted an image on social media, claiming it showed the attacker, Sakaria Rajeshbhai Khimjibhai, with AAP's Gujarat MLA Gopal Italia. He suggested the photo indicated political backing for the assault during Gupta's Jan Sunwai at her Civil Lines residence. "What was suspected has happened. The photo with @ArvindKejriwal's close associate @Gopal_Italia says a lot. It clearly seems that the attack on @gupta_rekha ji today is connected to @AamAadmiParty. Will Kejriwal ji explain the truth behind this photo? Kejriwal ji, please explain, 'What is this relationship called?' Amazing," Khurana's post read. Italia hit back, calling Khurana a 'petty troll' and releasing the original video—posted on his Facebook on August 2—showing him with someone else, not the accused. He also invoked Khurana's late father, former Delhi CM Madan Lal Khurana, accusing the BJP leader of shaming his legacy. Italia warned of legal action against media outlets that carried the BJP's claim without verification. "Harish Khurana ji, you yourself don't have more respect than a troll, but before indulging in such cheap antics, didn't you think about the honour of your father, Madan Lal ji?" Italia said in a social media post. He added: "Seeing your deeds, which are even lower than those of a small-time BJP worker paid two rupees per tweet, would the late Madan Lal Khurana ji be very pleased? What would he be thinking, seeing his son become a petty troll?" Italia further warned, "My appeal to all media is not to run news based on this petty troll Harish ji's tweet without verifying it. I will be forced to take legal action." While BJP leaders framed the attack as a conspiracy, AAP MLA Anil Jha suggested the incident was fabricated. "No attack happened. I have known her for a long time now. This is a story, and she got a man to stage-manage this," Jha said. Meanwhile, Delhi Police confirmed that Sakaria Rajeshbhai Khimjibhai, a Rajkot resident, has been booked for attempt to murder under Section 109(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police described him as a 'serial offender' with multiple past cases in Gujarat, many ending in acquittal.


NDTV
34 minutes ago
- NDTV
AAP's "Troll" Jab After BJP MLA Shares 'AI Image' Of Rekha Gupta Attacker
New Delhi: The fallout from the assault on Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta deepened today after a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA shared an image linking the attacker to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), prompting a fierce counterattack. The BJP's Delhi MLA Harish Khurana posted a photograph on social media, claiming it showed the attacker, Sakaria Rajeshbhai Khimjibhai, alongside AAP's Gujarat MLA Gopal Italia. Mr Khurana suggested the picture raised questions about whether the attack during Ms Gupta's Jan Sunwai at her Civil Lines residence had political backing. "What was suspected has happened. The photo with @ArvindKejriwal's close associate @Gopal_Italia says a lot. It clearly seems that the attack on @gupta_rekha ji today is connected to @AamAadmiParty. Will Kejriwal ji explain the truth behind this photo? Kejriwal ji, please explain, 'What is this relationship called?' Amazing," Mr Khurana's post read. The Gujarat unit of AAP dismissed the photograph as doctored, alleging the BJP had used artificial intelligence tools to manufacture a link. "This photo is fake and edited. It was created using Artificial Intelligence to malign AAP's image," said Gujarat AAP spokesperson Karan Barot. He pointed to an August 2 Facebook video still accessible on Gopal Italia's page, from which the screenshots had been lifted. हरीश खुराना जी, आप की ख़ुद की तो किसी ट्रोलर से ज़्यादा इज्जत है नहीं लेकिन ऐसी घटिया हरकत करने से पहले अपने पिताजी मदनलाल जी की इज्जत की तो परवाह कर लेते? दो रूपिये Per ट्वीट के हिसाब से काम कर रहे भाजपाई छुटभैये से भी निम्न स्तर के आप के कारनामे देखकर स्वर्गीय मदनलाल खुराना… — Gopal Italia (@Gopal_Italia) August 20, 2025 Mr Italia himself launched a sharp attack on Mr Khurana, calling him "a petty troll" and invoking the memory of his late father, BJP stalwart and former Delhi chief minister Madan Lal Khurana. "Harish Khurana ji, you yourself don't have more respect than a troll, but before indulging in such cheap antics, didn't you think about the honour of your father, Madan Lal ji?" Mr Italia said in a social media post. He added: "Seeing your deeds, which are even lower than those of a small-time BJP worker paid two rupees per tweet, would the late Madan Lal Khurana ji be very pleased? What would he be thinking, seeing his son become a petty troll?" Italia further warned, "My appeal to all media is not to run news based on this petty troll Harish ji's tweet without verifying it. I will be forced to take legal action." AAP also released the link to the original video, which featured Mr Italia alongside another person, not the man accused of attacking Ms Gupta. While BJP leaders framed the attack as a conspiracy, AAP MLA Anil Jha suggested the incident was fabricated. "No attack happened. I have known her for a long time now. This is a story, and she got a man to stage-manage this," Mr Jha said. The Delhi Police confirmed that Sakaria Rajeshbhai Khimjibhai, a Rajkot resident, had been booked for attempt to murder under Section 109(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The police described him as a "serial offender" with a string of past cases in Gujarat, many of which ended in acquittal.