Jammu, Jan 26: Irate Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists Wednesday attacked the Minister for Finance Abdul Rahim Rather’s vehicle and caused a partial damage to it.
The activists also allegedly pulled apart the State flag which was fixed on the vehicle, showing disrespect to it.
The trouble erupted when the official vehicle of the minister was passing by the BJP office in Kachi Chawni area where the party activists had gathered for a press conference by senior party leaders Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Ananth Kumar and Anurang Thakur.
Over 250 BJP activists came out of the party headquarters immediately after the senior leaders of the party left the venue. The party activists blocked the road and shouted slogans against the government for denying the BJP leaders to hoist tricolour at Lal Chowk, Srinagar.
As the protest was going on, the minister’s vehicle passed through the area. “The protestors smashed the window shields of the car and scuffled with the police personnel who were trying to make way for the vehicle”, eyewitnesses said.
They also pulled apart the State flag which was fixed on the vehicle, they added.
The clash lasted for a few minutes, but the minister drove away unhurt. Police resorted to mild baton charge to disperse the BJP activists.
Sources said the police detained over a dozen activists of BJP for attacking the vehicle of senior cabinet minister. They have been detained at a local police station here.
Sources within the party revealed that the party leaders were preparing to stage protest against the arrest of its activists.
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