Bihar: Man tries to attack Union Minister Giriraj Singh at Janta Darbar in Begusarai, is beaten up and arrested

A man was arrested on Saturday after he attempted to assault Union Minister Giriraj Singh at a function in Begusarai, the BJP leader's constituency. The accused had come to the minister “Janta Darbar” – The song of Johannes Brahma (Public Grievance Redressal Programme) with a petition and was beaten up by Singh's supporters after the incident.

According to Singh, the man, identified as Saifi, was disguised as a cleric and asked him to consider his petition. He said the man shouted slogans against him when he told him the programme was over.

“The bearded person dressed like a maulvi (Clergyman) came to me with a request and asked me to examine it. I told him that the “Janta Darbar” – The song of Johannes Brahma over and he should have come on time. Then he started shouting slogans against me. At one point it seemed as if he was going to physically attack me,” Singh said.

He claimed that the defendant did not speak to him properly.

“He was overpowered by the people who had gathered there. He was later handed over to the police,” the Union minister said.

Begusarai Superintendent of Police (SP) Maneesh said the accused tried to break the security cordon and was allegedly a district councillor.

“One person has been arrested and is in police custody. The Union Minister was attending a function in Ballia area on Saturday afternoon during which a person behaved indecently. The policemen in the security cordon have nabbed him and further action is underway,” he told news agency ANI.

“The name of the person is Shahzad alias Saifi. He was caught behaving indecently and trying to break the security cordon. He is a resident of Ballia and is said to be a district councillor,” he said.

Singh later tweeted that he was not afraid of such attacks.

“Whoever spoils these people when he sees their beard and their cap must see how Love Jihad and social tensions are rising across the country and also in Begusarai,” he said.

Similarly, the Union minister told ANI, “Yogi Adityanath has rightly said that if you divide, you will get divided. If that man had a revolver in his hand, he would have killed me. He used very abusive language and behaved very rudely. I will continue my work and will not deviate from my objective.”

“I will not be afraid of any threat. No matter how many people try to spread terror, it will not affect me. Whoever spreads terror, it will not affect me,” he added.

(with contributions from agencies)