BJP leaders visit injured Manikanta Rathod in hospital, blame minister Priyank Kharge for attack

KALABURAGI: Nearly two days after BJP leader Manikanta Rathod was grievously attacked by a group of unidentified men, the police are yet to nab the culprits.

Rathod, the BJP candidate who ws defeated in the Assembly election from Chittapur, was attacked by about 10 bike-borne men on Sunday night near Shankarwadi in Shahbad with knives and beer bottles. The attackers targeted Rathod’s neck, but he luckily sustained injuries on the neck and arms.

Rathod was accompanied by his personal secretary at the time of the attack. The identity of the attackers and the motive for the attack are yet to be ascertained. Rathod is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kalaburagi. The Shahbad police have registered a case.

Manikanta Rathod (right) and his secretary are undergoing treatment in a hospital in Kalaburagi.

On Monday, several BJP leaders including former MLA and party spokesman Rajkumar Telkur, MLC B G Patil, KKRDB former president Dattatreya Patil, visited Manikanta Rathod in hospital and inquired about his health.

“Attacks on BJP leaders have increased after the Congress came to power and false cases are being foisted against them. The attackers came with the intention of killing Manikanta Rathod as he has lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta against minister Priyank Kharge. The minister is directly responsible for the attack”, the BJP leaders charged.

Manikanta Rathod had contested against Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge on a BJP ticket from Chittapur. “Some miscreants attacked my car with beer bottles and weapons, in which I sustained injuries. In my hand, there are eight stitches and in my ear, there are four”, Rathod said.

He further alleged that the attack was being instigated by Congress minister Priyank Kharge. “On November 15, we filed a complaint against Priyank Kharge about his involvement in scams. The attack was planned and they wanted to kill me. I am not going to back out and will continue to raise our voice against the wrong,” he said.

Manikanta Rathod was arrested on November 13, 2022, for allegedly threatening Priyank Kharge, who is the Congress MLA from Chittapur, with murder and was later released on bail.