Haridwar Mayor injured in clash between supporters of two BJP state Ministers

The supporters of two senior BJP Uttarakhand cabinet ministers clashed in Haridwar today following an anti-encroachment drive in which the Mayor of Haridwar Muncipal Corporation, a known supporter of one of the ministers, sustained injuries. Mayor Manoj Garg was injured and admitted to the hospital where he received seven stitches.

The trouble in the holy city started with inundation of low-lying areas following overnight heavy rainfall. The Khanna Nagar area where Uttarakhand Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik lives was affected by waterlogging. The supporters of the ministers and residents charged that the flood in the locality was caused by alleged encroachments by Prem Nagar Ashram, owned by Uttarakhand Tourism Minister and spiritual guru Satpal Maharaj.

The agitated residents approached Haridwar Mayor Manoj Garg who is a known supporter of Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik. Mayor Manoj Garg went to the Prem Nagar Ashram with a JCB in tow and started demolishing a cemented culvert built outside the ashram. This was opposed by supporters of Satpal Maharaj and soon supporters of both the ministers started shouting slogans against each other.

In the meanwhile, disciples of Satpal Maharaj, who live in the ashram attacked the Mayor and Municipal Corporation team. Both sides resorted to heavy brick batting in which more than a dozen persons were injured. The police had a tough time in restoring order in the area. Meanwhile, supporters of Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik, who is also the Haridwar city BJP legislator, started a dharna, seeking action against Maharaj’s supporters.

Mayor Manoj Garg who was admitted to the hospital said, “I will apprise Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and other national party leaders about this incident. Satpal Maharaj should tender resignation as he himself is doing an illegal act by encroaching upon public property,” said the Mayor. Both, Satpal Maharaj and Madan Kaushik were unavailable for comments.