Goa CM blamed for attack on BJP legislator

An attack on a BJP legislator by his own party activists for attending a cultural event organised by a rival political party has been blamed on Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Aruna, wife of assaulted legislator Vishnu Wagh, has accused Parrikar and BJP organising secretary Satish Dhond of giving out a 'supari' (contract) to have her husband attacked at a public meeting Monday.

The Bhratiya Janata Party said the allegation was "irresponsible".

"(Police) should take my words on record that Parrikar and Dhond gave a 'supari' to (BJP legislator Kiran) Kandolkar to attack Vishnu," she told a public rally in Wagh's St. Andre legislative constituency.

Kandolkar has denied the accusation.

On Thursday, Wagh was attacked by nearly 50 people, allegedly BJP workers who were supporters of Kandolkar.

An independent legislator Vijai Sardesai, who was also returning from the same cultural programme organised by a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) functionary, had to brandish his gun to escape the mob.

Wagh escaped with minor injuries but his car was smashed with stones and metal rods by the mob.

"They were workers from my party who were angry that I attended a cultural event... I have every right to attend a cultural event which has no political colour," Wagh told IANS after naming 10 people in his first information report.

A Kamu Halarnkar has been arrested in connection with the assault.

The BJP the allegations from the legislator and his wife were "irresponsible".

"She has dared to accuse our chief minister and senior BJP functionaries for the attack. We take offence to it," BJP's state women's unit president Kunda Chodankar told the media in Panaji.

The NCP's women's wing took on the BJP for criticising the BJP legislator and his wife.

"After attacking their own MLA, they are now blamikng the NCP. It is also a shame that the BJP women's wing is blaming Aruna Wagh for standing by her husband," said Rakhi Naik, state president of the NCP's women's wing.