New Delhi, Aug 22 (PTI) A 60-year-old man was apprehended on Friday for raising slogans against BJP MLA Arvinder Singh Lovely during a public event in Delhi's Gandhi Nagar, police said.
The man, identified as Praveen Sharma, runs a cable TV business in Ajeet Nagar. He claimed he was a BJP worker associated with the party for the last 40 years, they said.
"Praveen Sharma, a resident of Gandhi Nagar, raised slogans against Gandhi Nagar MLA Arvinder Singh Lovely while he was addressing people," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Prashant Gautam said.
The officer said Sharma was standing in a street behind security barricades and was immediately escorted away from the venue. "Security of the VIP was not breached at any point in time," the DCP asserted.
According to police sources, Sharma, agitated about not being called on stage, shouted "BJP zindabad, Rekha Gupta zindabad, Arvinder Singh Lovely murdabad". Police quickly responded by escorting him out of the venue.
Later, Sharma released a video in which he said he regretted that act. Claiming to be a BJP leader, he said, "Today in Gandhi Nagar, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta came for a programme, where we had also gone. As a BJP leader, I wasn't called on stage. Out of anger about it, I said something."
In the video, Sharma praised both Rekha Gupta and Arvinder Singh Lovely as good leaders. "Our MLA works towards the development of our area. This act by me is regretted," he added.
Gupta had also attended the event, her first public appearance since the attack on her on Wednesday. However, officials said the ruckus ended before she arrived.
Gupta was allegedly attacked by a 41-year-old man at her Civil Lines Camp Office residence during a 'Jan Sunwai' programme on Wednesday.