Will Meet CM, This Should be Probed: Athawale After Being Slapped

(Photo: PTI)

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Sunday, 9 December, said that he will meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to demand an investigation into the matter, after he was slapped by a man at a public gathering in Maharashtra’s Ambernath on Saturday night.

“I'm a popular leader, this might have been done at the behest of someone angry over something. Security arrangement there wasn't adequate. I'll meet CM over this incident. It should be investigated,” he told ANI.

A youth, identified as Pravin Gosavi, allegedly pushed and assaulted Athawale after a function in Ambernath town.

The incident occurred as the Minister came down after addressing a meeting when the youth suddenly lunged at him, pushed and slapped him on the face, according to eyewitnesses.

Even as some supporters rushed to the Minister’s aid, pushed away the attacker and roughed him up, Athawale’s personal bodyguards and police security pinned him down and whisked him away from the venue.

The motive behind the attack is not yet known, though the youth is said to be an activist of Republican Party of India, headed by Athawale, and which is a constituent of the ruling NDA.

Though appearing a bit shaken by the incident, the Minister departed for Mumbai shortly thereafter, while the youth was detained by police for investigations.