Several members of the right-wing organizations vandalized and attempted to set fire to Congress leader and former Union law minister Salman Khurshid’s home in Nainital’s Ramgarh. While the police are yet to identify the miscreants, officials said that around 15-20 people were involved in the incident.
According to police the incident happened at around 2 pm when some members of certain right-wing groups reached Khurshid’s house located in a remote village named Pyuda. The protesters were shouting slogans against Khurshid and set fire to his effigy as well as his house damaging a part of it. The caretakers of the house finally doused the fire.
Nainital Superintendent of Police (SP) Jagdeesh Chandra confirmed the development and said that the police has been stationed at Khurshid’s house and it is also in process of registering an FIR. When asked whether any BJP members were involved in the incident, Chandra said that he is yet to confirm their identities.
“We have our officers on the spot and they are trying to assess the situation. We have also decided to provide security to the house and caretakers and an appropriate number of officers will be stationed there,” Chandra said.
“We are in process of registering an FIR and are invoking sections like 436 (Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house) and 506 (criminal intimidation). Strict action will be taken against the offenders,” he said.
The right wing organisations have been protesting against Khurshid’s book ‘Sunrise Over Ayodhya: Nationhood in Our Times’ for allegedly comparing Hindutva to ISIS and Boko Haram.
The controversial paragraph reads, “Sanatan dharma and classical Hinduism known to sages and saints was being pushed aside by a robust version of Hindutva, by all standards a political version similar to jihadist Islam of groups likes ISIS and Boko Haram of recent years.”
After the attack on his house, Khurshid posted the videos and photos on his Facebook page.
“So such is the debate now. Shame is too ineffective a word. Besides I still hope that we can reason together one day and agree to disagree if not more,” he wrote.