NEW DELHI: It’s not a matter that BJP can horse around. Outrage sparked by alleged beating of a police horse by protesting BJP workers including a party MLA in Uttarakhand forced the central leadership to decry the act. BJP termed the act as unacceptable and said party has taken cognizance of the episode after going through the videos of the incident.
State CM Harish Rawat visited the stable and asked the police force to take help of Veterinary Hospital Chennai for its treatment.
As the political war between the ruling Congress and the BJP in Uttarakhand, a 13-year-old horse – named Shaktiman - of the local police unit became a unlikely symbol as it was injured on Monday in Dehradun. The horse suffered multiple fractures when mounted police tried to control protesting BJP workers led by MLA Ganesh Joshi. Videos suggested that horse was beaten up BJP protesters, while in some pictures even Joshi is seen as menacingly pointing his stick at the horse. The horse fell down and broke its leg.
Joshi had denied hitting at the horse. He said it was a part of the state government's conspiracy to malign him and his party. He said the horse went out of control during the protests and one of its hind legs got stuck in a hole dug up to put up the barricades. Joshi said he was only trying to scare away the animal which had gone berserk, leaving a BJP worker badly injured.
On Tuesday, state CM Harish Rawat visited the horse to enquire about its health. Even Mussoorie MLA Joshi visited the horse at police stable.
Even as scorn poured over social media on the bizarre incident, police registered a case against Joshi and his supporters under Cruelty to Animals Act.
Chief Minister Rawat also asked Dehradun SSP Sadanand Daate to take the help of doctors of the Veterinary Hospital, Chennai.
"A look at the horse shows the excruciating pain the animal is undergoing. A political party should not vent its frustration on a hapless animal in this manner. "Political workers must learn the value of restraint and tolerance. It seems the word tolerance does not exist in BJP's dictionary," Rawat said.
BJP’s central leadership took cognizance of the matter.
"Party is aware of the incident. Party has taken a serious note of the incident. I am sure the party will take a call on this," Union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters.
Such a behaviour is unacceptable, he said.