Pune: Journalist Nikhil Wagle's car attacked by BJP workers for remarks on Modi, Advani

The car of journalist Nikhil Wagle was attacked on Friday (February 9), allegedly by BJP workers in Pune, when he was travelling to attend an event, officials said.

They were protesting his remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and LK Advani after the ruling party patriarch was awarded the Bharat Ratna.

While an FIR has been lodged against the BJP workers, Wagle has been booked as well on several charges.

“Seventh attack”

A Deccan Police Station official told news agency PTI that BJP workers threw ink on the car in which Wagle and two others, Aseem Sarode and Vishwambhar Choudhary, were travelling under police protection to the “Nirbhay Bano” event organised by Rashtra Seva Dal in Singhad Road area.

Television visuals showed BJP workers mobbing the car at Khandoji Baba Chowk and vandalising it, resulting in the vehicle’s windscreen and side panes getting damaged.

Wagle managed to reach the venue of the event under police protection, the official added.

Addressing the “Nirbhay Bano” event later, Wagle said, “I forgive all those who attacked me. I have been attacked six times earlier and this was the seventh.”

Guild statement

The Editors Guild of India later released a statement condemning the attack on Wagle.

“Mr Wagle’s views are his views. But to attack him for voicing his opinion is unjust, illegal, and deplorable.

The Guild also expressed concern about FIRs being lodged against Wagle for allegedly making offensive remarks against the PM and Advani.

“The Guild reiterates its deep concerns on the misuse of criminal laws against journalists in an effort to intimidate them and harass them. We urge law enforcement agencies to exercise restraint before registering complaints against journalists as an FIR, lest the process of investigation becomes a punishment itself,” the Guild statement read.

FIR against Wagle

The Deccan Police Station official confirmed to PTI about the case against Wagle. “Nikhil Wagle has been booked under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 500 (defamation), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Vishrambaug police station. We are probing the matter further,” he said.

Senior BJP leader Sunil Deodhar had filed a complaint against the 64-year-old journalist at the Vishrambaug police station on Tuesday over the controversial comments, he said.

Wagle made the alleged defamatory remarks on social media platform X against Modi and Advani after the Centre announced that the latter would be conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour.

More FIRs

Later Friday, activist Shraddha Jadhav lodged an FIR against BJP office bearers and workers for allegedly pelting stones on Wagle’s vehicle and throwing black chemical (ink) on the activists who were trying to protect the journalist.

Early Saturday, police constable Aniruddha Anerao lodged another FIR at Parvati police station, accusing Wagle and the organisers of the “Nirbhay Bano” event of violating a notice issued to them by the police.

“Not opposed to event”

Workers from the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi were engaged in a standoff outside the Rashtra Seva Dal premises earlier, with protesters saying they would now allow Wagle to speak at the event.

Pune BJP had also requested the police to deny permission to the “Nirbhay Bano” event.

Pune city Shiv Sena president Pramod Bhangire said they were not opposing the event but only the participation of Wagle.

“We condemn Wagle’s remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP veteran LK Advani. By making such remarks in his social media posts, he has created rift between communities,” Bhangire said.

(With agency inputs)