Chandrashekhar Azad Calls for Peace After Attack

Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan’s condition is stable after being shot at by unidentified assailants in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district, police said on Wednesday.

Azad was admitted to a local hospital after one of two bullets fired grazed his abdomen. The Bhim Army Chief was accompanied by four others, including his younger brother, in a car when the incident happened.

Speaking to The Citizen a close associate of Azad said that if the bullet had been two inches here or there the consequences would have been catastrophic. “We all are shaken at the moment but relieved that nothing major happened. We are trying to get more information on the attackers,” he added.

According to reports, the first bullet entered the seat of the vehicle, grazing the politician’s waist as it passed through the car door, while the second bullet hit the back door.

“The convoy of Chandrashekhar Azad was fired at by a few car-borne armed men,” Senior Superintendent of Police Vipin Tada told ANI, adding “A bullet brushed past him. He is alright and has been taken to CHC [Community Health Center] for medical treatment. Police is investigating the matter.”

The vehicle used by the attackers had a Haryana registration number.

“The borders of the district have been sealed and a massive operation to track the assailant and their vehicle has been launched,” said Superintendent of Police (City) Abhimanyu Manglik.

The 36-year-old Dalit leader was on his way back from a 'terhavin' ritual at a supporter's home in Deoband when two bullets were fired at his SUV at around 5 pm near Union Circle, in Deoband, Saharanpur.

Meanwhile, the party issued a statement calling the attack cowardly and demanded that the accused be arrested and strict action be taken to ensure security of Azad.

“The deadly attack on Bhim Army Chief and National President Bhai Chandrasekhar Azad in Deoband of Saharanpur is a cowardly act of stopping the Bahujan Mission Movement,” the party said in a statement.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav raised concerns about the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh under the Bharatiya Janata Party government. “The murderous attack on Chandrashekhar Azad, national president of Azad Samaj Party in Deoband, Saharanpur, by criminals protected by power is highly condemnable and cowardly act,” he said on Twitter. “When people’s representatives are not safe under the BJP rule, then what will happen to the general public? Jungle Raj in UP.”

Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav said that the morale of criminals in the state is so high that they “have started breaking all their limits”.

In a video statement, the Azad Samaj Party chief asked his supporters to maintain peace. “I did not expect such a sudden attack. We will continue our fight constitutionally…" he said from the hospital.

Hundreds of Bhim Army and Azad Samaj Party supporters gathered at the hospital demanding Z security for him even as the police deployed additional force to avoid any untoward situation.

The attack has been condemned by many political leaders and South Asian Diaspora as well. “We stand in solidarity with the #BhimArmy leader #ChandrashekharAzad who faced a murderous attack in Deoband designed to stop the Bahujan Mission Movement. These murderous criminals who thrive under #YogiAdityanath must be brought to justice,” a Britain based civil society building solidarity for people’s struggles for justice and democracy and against fascism, exploitation, imperialism and war in South Asia tweeted.

Former minister with the Delhi government Rajendra Pal Gautam said that the ideology of Ambedkar can never be killed. “You can kill Rajendra Pal Gautam and Chandrashekhar Azad, but you can not kill Ambedkar’s ideology. If you kill one of us, millions will be born,” he added. The police are investigating the matter as of now.