Daijiworld Media Network – Thrissur

New Delhi, Sep 5: Union Minister Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has filed a complaint against Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, accusing him of falsely and publicly using the minister’s name in connection with the alleged assault of a student activist’s father during a protest in Delhi.

The party, in its complaint, sought protection from what it described as Bhardwaj’s false public claims and clarified that neither Paswan nor the party has any connection with the influencer. It also expressed solidarity with the student activist and her injured father.

Paswan on Friday said Bhardwaj had misused his name as well as those of other political leaders to create an impression that he had been protected from legal action.

“In public life, many people come to meet us and take pictures. But if on that basis they claim to be personal acquaintances, then that is a misuse of our name,” Paswan said.

He said Bhardwaj had allegedly given the impression that action had not been taken against him because of the minister and his party.

Paswan urged Delhi Police to conduct an impartial investigation and take strict action against Bhardwaj.

“The individual is openly admitting to having beaten someone so severely that it could potentially have resulted in their death. If no action is taken, then I believe it will set a very wrong precedent for the country and the public,” he said.

The controversy arose after a video clip from a podcast surfaced in which Bhardwaj allegedly claimed that he had “cracked the skull” of the father of a student activist during a CJP protest at Jantar Mantar. He reportedly claimed the man suffered an injury requiring 60 stitches and that he had avoided being jailed.

Bhardwaj also allegedly invoked the names of several political leaders, claiming to have their support. Photographs of him with political figures, including Chirag Paswan, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Delhi minister Kapil Mishra, have also surfaced.

Delhi Police detained Bhardwaj in Uttar Pradesh on Friday after members of the Cockroach Janta Party protested outside the Parliament Street police station, demanding his arrest over the alleged assault.

The protestors were accompanied by Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) chief and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad and MP Pappu Yadav. They had earlier met police officials and were reportedly assured that action would be taken against Bhardwaj within 72 hours.

Paswan said he and his party would continue to support the victim’s family and called for the truth to emerge through a fair investigation.