Kanti Kharadi is contesting the ongoing Gujarat Assembly elections from Danta constituency in the state. Hours before the voting begins for the second phase of Gujarat Assembly elections on Monday, Congress MLA Kanti Kharadi from Danta constituency, who Rahul Gandhi claimed had gone “missing” following an attack by the BJP, was found ‘safe’. Kharadi claimed that he was attacked by a BJP candidate and he had to escape.
Congress MLA Kanti Kharadi from Danta constituency in Banaskantha district, Gujarat, said, “Whatever happened was unfortunate. I was going to my area as there was an election. I saw that the atmosphere was heated there, so I decided to escape.”
Narrating the incident, Kharadi said, “I was going to my voters. BJP candidate Ladhu Parghi along with LK Barad and his brother Vadan ji were amongst those who attacked us. They were carrying weapons with them and attacked me with swords.”
“While our car was returning, some cars chased us. BJP candidate (from Danta constituency) Ladhu Parghi and two others came with weapons, with swords. We thought we must escape, we ran for 10-15 km and for two hours we were in the jungle,” he added.
Kharadi’s statement comes just a few hours after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of attacking Kharadi ahead of voting for the seat after which he went “missing”.
Rahul Gandhi tweeted condemning the alleged attack on Kharadi while questioning the Election Commission’s (EC) silence.
Meanwhile, Congress working president and incharge of Banaskantha district for the party, Jignesh Mevani, in a tweet in Gujarati, alleged, “Attack on Congress MLA from Danta constituency Kantibhai Kharadi by BJP candidate and his goons. An attempt was made to kill him (Kharadi) while intercepting his four-wheeler. The vehicle has turned turtle. Still, Kantibhai Kharadi is missing.”
While talking to the media, Kharadi also claimed that four days ago, he had written a letter to the election commission officer regarding the apprehension of the attack, but no action was taken. “If the commission had taken action, this attack would not have happened.”
Danta police found the MLA in a forest area and brought him back. Further investigation is underway. Danta is a seat reserved for Scheduled Tribe communities and Kharadi from Congress and Ladhu Parghi from BJP are in the fray. The seat is set to go for polls on Monday along with 92 other constituencies of the state in the second and final phase.
