Kota (Rajasthan): A man attempted to self-immolate during the Bharat Jodo Yatra as the march led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi entered its fifth day in Rajasthan on Thursday. The incident happened in Kota, wherein Gandhi was scheduled to garland the Rajiv Gandhi statue. Before he could reach the stage, the man tried to self-immolate, causing a stir in the Yatra.
The Congress leader consequently refrained from climbing the stage for security reasons. Meanwhile, the police authorities deployed at the site extinguished the fire and immediately rushed the man to a private hospital for treatment.
The man identified as Kuldeep Sharma (30), has claimed to be a BJP worker and to have committed the act out of offence over Rahul Gandhi's objectionable remarks on Veer Savarkar. Sharma is originally a resident of Nainwa in Bundi district, and is currently living in the Pratap Nagar area in Kota, working as a medical representative in a company.
Sharma was admitted to a private hospital on Jhalawar road for initial treatment after the incident, though he was reportedly taken into police custody within a few hours thereafter. Some reports claim that the police officials probing the matter have entirely denied any such incident, even as Sharma's whereabouts at the moment are being held back from the media.
Meanwhile, Kota youth BJP district president Sudarshan Gautam confirmed that Sharma tried to set himself ablaze and that he has connections with the BJP. Gautam said Sharma was not attached to the BJP or any of its affiliated organisations, but he stayed with party workers and was miffed with the Gandhi family for "anti-Hindu activities". Sharma's father Giriraj Sharma has been traced to BJP as well as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
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A video of people surrounding Sharma in order to prevent him from self-immolation surfaced on social media later. Sharma, however, could not be reached for comment.
The fifth day of the Bharat Jodo Yatra commenced in the morning from the Ananthapura welcome gate located on Jhalawar road. Rahul Gandhi was scheduled to cover a distance of 23 km to Rangpur square across the day, while the Yatra will halt in the evening. Immediately after, Gandhi will leave for Sawai Madhopur.
As he started the fifth day of his yatra in the state, the Congress leader also paid a visit to the Clover Leaf bridge in Ananthapura, which has recently been named Bharat Jodo Setu by the City Development Trust. Rahul Gandhi, during his visit, painted his palms and left his handprints on the bridge.
Several ministers including Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, National Organization General Secretary KC Venugopal, PCC Chief Govind Singh Dotasara, Former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot, Randeep Surjewala, UDH Minister Shanti Dhariwal, Mining Minister Pramod Jain Bhaya, his wife and Baran District Chief Urmila Jain Bhaya had joined Rahul Gandhi in his march. A large number of coaching students also gathered under the City Mall flyover, all of whom were greeted by Rahul Gandhi in his half-minute address.
