Gujarati Man held for attacking Delhi CM: My son loves dogs, he was upset after SC order says Mother
She claimed her son is an animal lover, who went to Delhi to take part in a protest against the recent Supreme Court order to relocate all stray dogs from streets of the national capital to shelters.
'He loves dogs, cows and birds. That is why he was upset after the SC said all the stray dogs in Delhi should be captured. He went to Haridwar a few days back and then told us over phone that he will go to Delhi to participate in protests in support of dogs,' she said.
'That's all he told us over the phone when we asked when he would return,' Bhanuben said.
CM Gupta was attacked during a 'Jan Sunwai' programme at her camp office in Delhi's Civil Lines on Wednesday morning, her office said.
Some eyewitnesses claimed that he appeared drunk, but this has not been confirmed yet. Another eyewitness said, 'I was there for the Jan Sunwai, and suddenly there was chaos. Suddenly there was an attack on the CM, the attacker seemed to have been prepared. This is a very shameful act.'
According to a senior police officer, the accused was detained and was being interrogated. Delhi Police have contacted Gujarat Police to verify his name, address, and background.
Sources in Delhi BJP said the attacker first gave the chief minister some papers during the public hearing and then allegedly attacked her.
The accused has been identified as Rajesh Sakaria (41), who resided with his wife, son and parents at Gokul Park on Kotharia Road in Gujarat's Rajkot city.
Arvind Kejriwal, former Delhi CM and national convener of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) tweeted, '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.'
Delhi Leader of the Opposition Atishi said, 'In a democracy, there is space for disagreement but not for violence. We hope Delhi Police takes the strictest action.' Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav called the incident 'very unfortunate,' adding, 'If the CM of Delhi is not safe, how can common citizens be safe?'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
43 minutes ago
- NDTV
An Arvind Kejriwal Move Prompted Government To Get 'Sack Ministers' Bill
New Delhi: The Centre decided to bring a law to remove Chief Ministers and ministers jailed for more than a month after being charged with serious offences after former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal did not resign after he was arrested in a corruption case last year, top government sources have said. Mr Kejriwal was arrested in June last year in a corruption case linked to alleged irregularities in Delhi's now-scrapped liquor policy. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) made it clear that he would retain the top post, and his colleagues in the cabinet ran the government on his behalf. Only after he was granted bail in September did he step down and said he would return to the post after the verdict of the "people's court", meaning the Assembly election. Following his resignation, AAP leader and minister Atishi took over as Chief Minister. She remained in the top post till the Delhi election in February this year, which AAP lost to the BJP. Sources in the government have said that they wanted to bring the law soon after Mr Kejriwal refused to resign following his arrest. But introducing the law at that point would have been projected by the Opposition as a 'vendetta politics' move. The government, therefore, chose to wait. Eventually, Mr Kejriwal's party was voted out in the Delhi election. Senthil Balaji Factor Another case that prompted the government to bring the law, which has drawn strong resistance from the Opposition, is the case of Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balaji. The DMK minister was arrested in a corruption case in 2023. Following his arrest, Mr Balaji continued as a minister without portfolio. The Madras High Court flagged this, saying a minister without a portfolio is a "constitutional travesty". He later resigned. The DMK leader was granted bail in 2024 and became minister again. In April this year, the Supreme Court heard a petition flagging the possibility of the minister intimidating witnesses and asked Mr Balaji to resign or risk bail cancellation. Eventually, he stepped down again. Sources said the government believes that this "joke needs to end". "The framers of the Constitution would have hardly thought that arrested ministers of Chief Ministers would want to run the government from jail," a source said. A Question To Rahul Gandhi Sources in the government have pointed to how Rahul Gandhi, now Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, opposed the UPA government's 2013 move to bypass a Supreme Court ruling that said MPs and MLAs convicted in a case carrying a jail term of two years will be disqualified from Parliament. The Congress had eventually scrapped the controversial ordinance. Ironically, this ordinance could have shielded Mr Gandhi when he was disqualified as a Lok Sabha MP following his conviction in a criminal defamation case in 2023. Citing the Congress leader's 2013 stand, a source in the government said, "If he was against corruption in politics then, why is his party opposing the Constitution Amendment Bill that penalises criminality in politics?" A Perception Battle The government does not have the required numbers to ensure the Bill's passage in Parliament as legislation to amend the Constitution requires a two-thirds majority in each House, which the NDA does not have. Why then did the government bring the Bill? Sources say the objective is to put the spotlight on corruption in politics and wage a perception battle against the Opposition. The Opposition has been trying to corner the government over the Special Intensive Revision in Bihar and Congress's allegations of 'vote theft'. Against this backdrop, the Opposition's protest against this legislation would be projected by the government as a reluctance to scuttle an anti-corruption move and block a shift towards cleaner politics. Sources in the government have also countered the Opposition's allegations that this law may be used to frame non-BJP Chief Ministers by using central agencies. "An arrest is made after a process. At any point, the person can approach the court and seek relief," a source said.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Faith in Constitution and hope in people, says Justice Sudershan Reddy after filing nomination for V-P polls
New Delhi: Former Supreme Court judge Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, the Opposition INDIA bloc's nominee for the post of Vice President, filed his nomination papers here on Thursday, saying his candidature is a commitment to the values of the Constitution and the strength of India's democracy. 'Today, I had the honour of filing my nomination papers for the office of the Vice President of India as a joint candidate of the Opposition parties. I did so with a deep sense of humility, responsibility, and unwavering commitment to the values enshrined in our Constitution,' Justice Reddy (retd) said in a statement after filing his papers. Reflecting on his career, he said: "My life in public service as a judge of the Supreme Court of India, as a student of law, and as a citizen rooted in the democratic traditions of this Republic has taught me that the true strength of India lies in the dignity of every individual, the protection of constitutional morality, and the unity in our diversity." He said that the contest is about more than individuals. "This election is not merely about one person. It is about reaffirming the idea of India as envisaged by our founders -- an India where Parliament functions with integrity, where dissent is respected, and where institutions serve the people with independence and fairness," he said. Calling the Vice President's role as Rajya Sabha Chairperson a custodian of parliamentary traditions, Reddy pledged: "If elected, I will discharge that role with impartiality, dignity, and a steadfast commitment to dialogue and decorum." Expressing gratitude to opposition parties and citizens alike, he added: "I am deeply grateful to the leaders of the Opposition parties for reposing their trust in me, and to the countless citizens who continue to inspire this collective struggle for justice, equality, and harmony. With faith in our Constitution and hope in our people, I embark on this journey. May our democratic spirit continue to guide us all." Justice Reddy's (retd) nomination was filed in the presence of senior Opposition leaders, including Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar, and DMK leaders, among others. As many as 80 MPs from different parties have signed his nomination papers. Justice Reddy (retd) will face off against NDA's C.P. Radhakrishnan, the incumbent Governor of Maharashtra and a veteran BJP leader from Tamil Nadu. The election is scheduled for September 9.
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
‘Uncertain fate for Delhi's stray dogs': Public health advocate on Supreme Court order
The Supreme Court's recent direction to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR's streets and place them in shelters has triggered alarm among animal welfare groups, legal experts, and ordinary citizens. The order, which mandates civic authorities in Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad to build facilities capable of housing at least 5,000 animals within eight weeks, also prohibits the release of captured dogs back into their many, this ruling represents a seismic shift away from India's long-standing legal framework on animal management.'This order is nothing short of a death sentence for every single stray dog in Delhi,' said Dr Sukriti Chauhan, Public Health and Animal Rights Advocate and co-founder of the No More 50 campaign. 'It disregards the law, empathy, and practicality. By barring their release, it strips dogs of their basic right to live freely and consigns them to overcrowded, underfunded shelters where suffering is inevitable.'A LEGAL CONTRADICTIONAt the heart of the debate is India's Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which legally require street dogs to be caught, sterilised, vaccinated against rabies, and released back into their original territories. These rules, first introduced in 2001 and amended in 2010 and 2023, are recognised as the only lawful method of stray dog population management in the country.'The judgment flies in the face of these laws,' Dr Chauhan explained. 'The ABC Rules mandate capture-neuter-vaccinate-release. They do not allow permanent confinement. When the Court says no one can question or intervene, it encroaches on our right to defend the voiceless.'Legal experts also note that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, along with numerous High Court and Supreme Court precedents, has reinforced the principle of coexistence between humans and community animals. This order, they argue, threatens to upend that most judicial interventions, this ruling was not prompted by a petition from citizens, NGOs, or government agencies. Instead, it was taken up suo motu, on the Court's own initiative.'That gives the impression that India is in the midst of a rabies outbreak,' Dr Chauhan said. 'But that is far from the truth.'THE RABIES QUESTIONAccording to government data, India reported 54 rabies-related deaths in 2024, tragic, but relatively small when compared to other preventable causes. For perspective, more than 13,000 students died by suicide that year, and nearly 2,800 people were killed by lightning strikes.'The way the order is framed misleads the public into thinking we are facing an acute rabies crisis because of stray dogs,' Dr Chauhan argued. 'In reality, the failure lies in inadequate vaccination coverage. If the Delhi government wanted to, they could vaccinate all 10 lakh dogs in the city in 60 days. Each preventable death is the result of inefficiency and lack of political will.'advertisementWhile rare, incidents of fatal dog attacks have drawn headlines and fuelled fear. Dr Chauhan acknowledged these tragedies:'The mauling of people by street dogs is real, and we do not dismiss the pain of victims and their families. But these episodes, as horrific as they are, remain exceptions and not the norm. Human suffering is undeniable, but so is the indescribable cruelty inflicted on street dogs in the name of control.'Experts emphasise that isolated incidents often drive 'knee-jerk' responses, rather than addressing root causes such as poor sterilisation rates, inconsistent vaccination drives, and ineffective waste UNDER SIEGEIndia's animal shelters are already overstretched, with most functioning on shoestring budgets, limited veterinary staff, and inadequate facilities. Forcing tens of thousands of dogs into these conditions would be catastrophic.'Shelters in this country are not built to absorb such a shock,' Dr Chauhan said. 'Mass confinement will mean extreme suffering, outbreaks of disease, and inevitable mass mortality. Dogs are not digits to be moved off streets. They are sentient beings surviving amongst us.'advertisementAnimal welfare experts argue that solutions must be rooted in science, compassion, and long-term policy.'The way forward is systematic sterilisation and vaccination, not forceful removal,' Dr Chauhan said. 'We need accountability mechanisms for civic bodies, budgets that match the scale of the task, and public awareness campaigns to teach safe coexistence. Waste management must also be addressed, because food waste is what sustains large stray populations.'Collaboration, she added, is critical. 'Government, NGOs, veterinary experts, and communities must work together. Only then can we reduce populations humanely while protecting public health.'A PERSONAL BONDFor Dr Chauhan, this fight is not just professional, but deeply personal.'If there were no street dogs, I would not be the woman I am today,' she said. 'They were my friends, mentors, and guides. Walking alone at night, going through tough days, it was the silent gaze and wagging tails that carried me you haven't felt the love of a dog, you have missed out on something crucial. That's why I call this order what it is: a death sentence. And we cannot let it happen.'advertisementAs civic bodies scramble to respond to the Court's deadline, the debate has split sharply between public safety concerns and animal rights. What is clear, however, is that India's approach to managing its estimated 6.2 crore stray dog population cannot be reduced to sweeping removals.'This is not the time for panic or punitive orders,' Dr Chauhan said. 'It is the time for measured, evidence-based, and humane action. Anything less will fail both people and the animals we share our streets with.'- EndsMust Watch
