The man who attacked Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during a public hearing on Wednesday has been identified as 41-year-old Rajesh Sakriya from Rajkot, Gujarat. Delhi Police confirmed that he has been taken into custody for questioning.
His family revealed that Sakriya is a passionate dog lover. They claim he was disturbed by the Supreme Court’s recent order to round up stray dogs in Delhi-NCR and shift them to shelters.
Family Says Anger Over Dog Order Triggered Attack
Speaking to reporters, Sakriya’s mother, Bhanu, said her son left for Delhi soon after the court order.
“My son loves dogs. He was angry after the Supreme Court’s order against stray dogs, and left for Delhi soon after. We don’t know anything else,” she told NDTV.
Family members insist that his frustration over the treatment of stray dogs was the main reason for his sudden action.
The incident took place during the Jan Sunwai programme at the CM’s Civil Lines camp office. Witnesses said Sakriya first handed over some papers to the Chief Minister. Moments later, he suddenly grabbed her hand and tried to pull her.
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Security personnel and the public quickly intervened and restrained him. A brief commotion followed, but CM Rekha Gupta did not suffer any major injuries.
Political Leaders Condemn the Attack
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva clarified that reports of the CM being slapped were false. “She was shaken but safe. The incident looked like a scuffle after the man tried to pull her,” he said.
The attack drew sharp criticism across party lines. Former Delhi CM Atishi called the incident “unacceptable” and demanded strict action. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa also reacted strongly, saying, “She worries about Delhi. This is distressing for her detractors. I condemn the attack in the strongest words.”
Police Investigation Underway
Delhi Police Commissioner SBK Singh visited the spot after the incident. He confirmed that Rajesh Sakriya is under interrogation. An official statement from the police is expected soon.
Some reports suggest Sakriya may have also wanted to seek help from the Chief Minister regarding a relative’s arrest. However, his family insists his anger over the stray dog ruling was his primary motive.
A Disturbing Security Breach
Concerns regarding the safety of Delhi’s senior leaders have been raised once more by the incident. Although there was no significant damage from the attack, it did draw attention to weaknesses in public interactions.
Authorities are now reviewing the security arrangements at the CM’s camp office to prevent such incidents in the future.
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