Surat: A video circulating on social media shows Congress leader H.S. Ahir pulling the chair of a female Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer on duty at a press conference for Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani, causing her to fall and sustain injuries. The incident occurred on Saturday, August 3, at Circuit House in Bhuj, Gujarat.
The Dalit female officer, who was attending the press conference in her official capacity, lodged a complaint at the Division police station in Bhuj. Based on her complaint, the police have registered a case against Haresh Shivjibhai Ahir, known as H.S. Ahir. According to the complaint, Ahir mocked and insulted the officer, saying, “You don’t deserve a chair,” after pulling it out from under her.
During a press conference addressing the incident, a senior police official stated that the IB officer was injured when Ahir, standing behind her, deliberately pulled her chair. Despite knowing she was on duty and aware of her Scheduled Caste background, Ahir's actions appeared intended to insult her. The officer is currently experiencing mental trauma, shock, and depression.
The police have taken the matter seriously, registering a case under sections 121(1), 221, and 133 of the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita, as well as relevant sections of the SC/ST Act. The officer has also suffered a spinal injury, adding to the severity of the charges, including obstruction of duty and community insult. H.S. Ahir, an advocate and the Convener of the Gujarat Congress Kisan Morcha, is the accused.
Gujarat's Minister of State for Home Affairs and senior BJP leader, Harsh Sanghavi, condemned the Congress party's actions, sharing CCTV footage of the incident and criticizing the party's mentality as 'anti-Dalit' and 'anti-women.' On social media platform X, he wrote, "The mentality of Congress has always been anti-women and anti-Dalit. See how, today during the press conference of Gujarat Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani, his close friend Kutch Congress leader H.S. Ahir deliberately injured a Dalit woman officer by pulling the chair. This is a very condemnable matter."
H.S. Ahir has previously faced controversy for making vulgar remarks against BJP MP and actress Kangana Ranaut during the Lok Sabha elections. The National Commission for Women (NCW) had criticized Ahir for his remarks, leading to the Election Commission issuing notices to Congress leaders Supriya Srinet and H.S. Ahir.
The investigation into the recent incident is ongoing, with further actions pending.
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