NEW DELHI: There was commotion at the press conference of Independent MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav here on Sunday evening when a man hurled a slipper at him, and the MP later alleged that a man had brought a knife to the meet with the intention of attacking him.
The incident, which raised questions of safety in a high-security zone, took place in the evening when the Lok Sabha MP from Purnia was giving an interview to reporters at his official residence at Pandara Road.
The developments came a day after a police complaint was filed against Pappu Yadav, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and others over a skit on the Parliament premises on Ram Mandir donations.
While Pappu Yadav was addressing media persons, a slipper was allegedly hurled at him, claimed a supporter of the MP. The assailant was identified as Sumit from Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr.
Soon after the slipper-hurling incident, the MP’s supporters thrashed Sumit, who was later detained by police. Sumit claimed he was angry with the MP for his alleged disrespectful remarks against saints.
Jaid Khan, Media Convenor of Purnia MP Pappu Yadav, told IANS, "A press conference was underway when 3-4 people started asking questions from the MP. Suddenly, one of them hurled a slipper at the MP.”
“At the same time, one of them was seen pulling out a knife. Those standing nearby tried to overpower the man with the knife, sparking a commotion,” said Khan.
He said angry supporters of the MP trashed the slipper thrower, but the MP himself shielded him and handed him over to police.
Later, Yadav said he was being threatened by anti-social elements ever since he raised the issue of donation theft in Ayodhya.
He alleged a bounty of up to Rs 51 lakh was being offered on his head ever since he had raised the issue.
