New Delhi: Former India cricketer and BJP MP Gautam Gambhi on Monday batted for “Exemplary action” against the mob which attacked and assaulted a 25-year old Muslim man for wearing skull cap on Saturday night in Gurugram.

In a tweet from his official twitter handle the former cricketer added that such an incident was deplorable and called for “Exemplary action” by Gururam authorities.

Gambhir, who recently won his first General election from Delhi East constituency added that India is a secular nation.

Gambhir tweeted, "'In Gurugram Muslim man told to remove skullcap, chant Jai Shri Ram'. It is deplorable. Exemplary action needed by Gurugram authorities. We are a secular nation where @Javedakhtarjadu writes "ओ पालन हारे, निर्गुण और न्यारे" & @RakeyshOmMehra gave us d song "अर्ज़ियाँ" in Delhi 6,"

25-year old Barakat Alam, hailing from Bihar had on Sunday alleged that he was attacked by a group of men while returning home after offering prayers at mosque on Saturday night. He further alleged that he was threatened to be fed pork meet if he do not chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

The mob allegedly attacked Barakat for wearing skull cap and stressed that the skull cap was “not allowed in the area”.

He alleged that he appealed for help but no one came forward. "Then they asked me to say "Jai Shri Ram". I said, 'why should I?' and then they started hitting me and tearing my kurta," he added.

He said the accused then escaped, most of them on motorcycles. A police case has been filed. The accused are yet to be identified. 

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Bengaluru (PTI): Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP over alleged disparaging remarks made by former Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during an assembly bypoll campaign in Bagalkote.

Simha made the remarks while campaigning for BJP candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath, triggering a political row ahead of the by-elections scheduled for April 9.

Congress has fielded Umesh Meti, son of former MLA late M Y Meti, whose death necessitated the bye-election.

"Pratap Simha's vile remarks about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bagalkot have exposed the BJP's despicable politics once again," Surjewala said in a social media post.

Alleging a larger political design, he added, "It is increasingly evident that Pratap Simha’s outburst is driven by desperation," and accused the BJP of using such remarks to target backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and minorities.

The Rajya Sabha member further claimed that the incident reflects a pattern within the party. "This is not one man's madness—it is the BJP’s political culture," he said, adding that the remarks were aimed at "denigrating leaders from marginalised communities".

Referring to past incidents, Surjewala said, "CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar have received death threats in the past, including one from BJP leaders who warned that their bodies would be stuffed into a refrigerator."

The Congress leader also criticised the BJP’s bypoll campaign strategy, alleging "internal contradictions".

He pointed to the party’s use of expelled MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal in campaigning despite earlier disciplinary action against him, accusing the BJP of resorting to "abuses and indignities" against opposition leaders.

Surjewala demanded immediate action from the BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, state president B Y Vijayendra, and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka.

He said they must tender a public apology to Kannadigas, particularly to OBCs, SCs, and minorities, over the remarks, and urged the party to expel Simha if it does not repudiate his statements.

Surjewala also called for legal action, demanding that an FIR be registered against Simha and that strict measures be taken.

Warning of "political consequences", he said the electorate in the bypoll-bound constituencies would respond decisively if the BJP failed to apologise, asserting that voters would "teach the BJP a befitting lesson" in the elections.

There has been no immediate reaction from the saffron party yet.