Nikhil Wagle, a well-known journalist known for his critical remarks against the BJP government, was attacked by a mob in Pune over his alleged derogatory remarks against PM Narendra Modi and the BJP leader known for the demolition of Babri Masjid, LK Advani.
Wagle is accused of making defamatory comments against PM Modi announced Mr. Advani would be honored with the Bharat Ratna, India’s most prestigious civilian award. The FIR was filed after a local BJP leader lodged a complaint. “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 the Vishrambaug police station.”
How did the Incident take Place?
‘Nirbhay Bano’ event was held at Pune’s Sane Guruji Smarak auditorium on Friday evening and Nikhil Wagle was invited. Vishwambhar Choudhary, the organizer of the event along with human rights lawyer Asim Sarode among others, had received threats from the city unit of the BJP over the presence of journalist Nikhil Wagle. Later, at the event, the two groups – BJP supporters, opposition workers, and “Nirbhay Bano” volunteers came face to face with each other at the event. While BJP workers were shouting ‘Nikhil Wagle Murdabad’ and opposition workers shouting ‘Jai Bheem’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, as reported by The Indian Express.
While Wagle along, Choudhari, Sarode were heading towards the venue, they were ruthlessly attacked by alleged supporters of BJP. Nikhil Wagle couldn’t reach the venue after his vehicle was thrashed by the mob.
“I survived only because of your love.”
Nikhil Wagle tweeted, “Yesterday death stood at the door. I survived only because of your love.. It is my belief that we all survived yesterday only with the blessings of Phule-Ambedkar.. Now the next life is for you. We will conquer Maharashtra to defeat fascism. We have no culture to fear such cowardly attacks. I am saying here that I will risk my life again so that this country does not become a Hindu Pakistan.”
“Pune city BJP president has threatened to disturb our Nirbhay Bano meeting tomorrow evening at Sane Guruji Smarak if police don’t ban the meeting. Friends, this meeting is against undeclared emergency. We need to save our democracy,” Wagle had said in a post on X on Thursday.
Meanwhile, speaking at the public program, Wagle said, “I forgive all those who attacked me. I have been attacked six times earlier, and this was the seventh.”
“Several MVA women karyakartas beaten up by BJP goons, eggs, stones, bricks hurled at them, Pune police remain spectators. Senior journalist Nikhil Wagle’s car smashed, ink, eggs thrown at his car. Brazen Bid to murder democracy by BJP in Pune. MVA will not be deterred, Shame on you Devendra Fadnavis, you are ordering your cadre to harm and injure hapless daughters of Maharashtra. Maharashtra will not forgive you,” Sanjay Raut wrote on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Past Incidents
In 2015, many news outlets mentioned Journalist Nikhil Wagle as the “next target of a right-wing outfit” for writing against Samir Gaikwad, a member of Sanatan Sanstha, a right-wing Hindu outfit. On February 16, 2015, near their home in Kolhapur, senior Communist Party of India leader Pansare and his wife, Uma, were shot at by two motorcycle men, later investigated to be Rudra Patil and Samir Gaikwad. Pansare died four days in a Hospital in Mumbai while his wife survived the attack that left her crippled.
Patil was also wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in the 2009 bomb blast in Margao. Wagle had reported receiving threats from the group since 2011 and was put under police protection.
