Gandhi's ashram on Sunday became the arena for violence, including a police lathicharge on journalists, when a meeting for communal harmony was disrupted by slogan-shouting activists of the Gujarat Yuva Morcha — the BJP youth wing in the state.
Six journalists were injured in the fracas, (one seriously) when DCP AP Pargi reportedly lathicharged them. NDTV cameraman Pranab Joshi was hit on the head and is currently under intensive medical care. Other journalists injured include Zee TV cameraman
Ashish Joshi, NDTV correspondent Sanjeev Singh and Aaj Tak reporter Diman Purohit.
Witnesses say the police also pointed guns, including carbines, at the reporters.
The target of the mob's anger was environmental activist Medha Patkar, who showed up just before lunch at the meeting which had been called by dancer and social activist Mallika Sarabhai's Darpana Academy.
Patkar was welcomed by Sarabhai, who later clarified that she had neither invited Patkar nor was she the organiser of the meeting. "It was an open meeting. We were just calling it," she said.
Before the 70-odd people gathered could reconvene after lunch, about 10 people barged in, shouting slogans. One of them, Amit Thaker, president of the Gujarat Yuva Morcha, ran towards Patkar and shouted: "We will not allow her to remain in Ahmedabad."
Patkar locked herself inside an office in the rear of the ashram, while the mob grew more belligerent, despite the presence of police.
The mob shouted "Medha bano ko bahar nikalo (bring Medha out)," Finally, the ashram authorities, after consulting Patkar, decided it was best if she left. "I don't want the meeting to be disrupted on my account," Patkar told the Hindustan Times. "I am
leaving because I want the meeting to continue and not because I am scared of these people."
According to witnesses, it was when cameramen were filming Patkar being led out by the police, that DCP Pargi attacked NDTV's Joshi.
Having disrupted the meeting, the mob then moved to the Darpana Academy pelted stones, threatening to return later in larger numbers. Sarabhai has filed a complaint with the police and asked for protection.
Joint commissioner of police Shivanand Jha said he would be making inquiries. "All I can say is that we have made the situation secure."
Back at the ashram, those left sang Hum honge kaamyaab before a picture of Gandhi that had been knocked askew during the attack.
