Delhi CM Rekha Gupta attack
Delhi was shaken on Wednesday when Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was attacked during her routine Jan Sunwai (public hearing) at her Civil Lines residence. The shocking incident unfolded when a man posing as a complainant stepped forward with papers, only to suddenly pull her hair and reportedly slap or push her.
The attacker was quickly identified as 41-year-old Rajesh Bhai Khimji Bhai Sakariya, a resident of Rajkot, Gujarat. Security officers overpowered him on the spot, and Delhi Police took him into custody for questioning. Early reports suggest that Sakariya may have been distressed over personal issues, including a jailed relative, while his family claimed he was upset over a recent Supreme Court order on stray dogs, describing him as an “animal lover.”
CM Gupta reportedly suffered a minor head injury but is said to be in stable condition. She was taken to hospital for precautionary checks and is expected to resume her schedule soon.
The attack has triggered a massive political storm in the capital. BJP leaders, including Manjinder Singh Sirsa, alleged that the incident could be part of a bigger conspiracy by political rivals who “cannot tolerate” Gupta’s leadership. On the other hand, AAP leader Atishi strongly condemned the violence, calling it “unacceptable in a democracy,” and demanded strict police action. Congress chief Devender Yadav also expressed concern, questioning how safe ordinary citizens are if the Chief Minister herself can be attacked in broad daylight.
Delhi Police Commissioner SBK Singh has ordered a high-level probe to investigate the security lapse and to determine if there was a larger plan behind the attack. Meanwhile, authorities are reviewing security arrangements for public hearings like Jan Sunwai to prevent similar breaches in the future.
For now, what started as a routine citizen interaction has turned into a major security and political flashpoint in Delhi, leaving both leaders and citizens demanding answers.
