The journalist, Raghav Trivedi, who works for a YouTube news channel called ‘Molitics’, said that some people, allegedly associated with the BJP, attacked him after he questioned them about the statements made by some women attending the rally.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Rae Bareli, Sunday. PTI

A 27-year-old journalist working with a Delhi-based online portal was assaulted, allegedly by BJP workers, at an election rally of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Rae Bareli Sunday.

The journalist, Raghav Trivedi, who works for a YouTube news channel called ‘Molitics’, said that some people, allegedly associated with the BJP, attacked him after he questioned them about the statements made by some women attending the rally. Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel met Trivedi at the district hospital and called the incident “a direct attack on democracy”.

Based on a complaint filed by Sanjeet Sahni, a cameraman and an associate of Trivedi, an FIR was registered against six unidentified persons under Sections 147 (rioting), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the IPC.

Rae Bareli Circle Officer Amit Singh said an investigation had been initiated but no arrest had been made until evening.

Trivedi told from the hospital, “I came from Delhi to cover ground reports in Rae Bareli and Amethi. During Shah’s rally, I interviewed women and many of them said they were brought to the event by their village pradhan with the promise they would be paid Rs 100. I also spoke to some people who were leaving the rally venue without waiting for the speech to end. When I enquired why they were leaving early, they said they were getting late. Then, I approached local BJP leaders to question them about these statements.”

“Initially, they denied any wrongdoing but when I informed them I had recorded statements of women, a group forcibly took me to a secluded place and demanded I delete the recording. When I refused, they began to assault me… I pleaded with police and bystanders for help, but no one intervened… I lost consciousness. When I regained consciousness, I found myself in hospital,” he said.