BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi criticized protesters at India Gate for raising slogans supporting a slain Naxal commander, accusing them of being influenced by “pollution of Marx and Mao.” The protest, initially against air pollution, saw demonstrators holding posters of Madvi Hidma, leading to arrests by Delhi Police for obstructing personnel and assaulting them. NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday said that the “pollution of Marx and Mao” is denser in the brains of the agitators after slogans condemning Naxal commander Hidma’s encounter were raised during a protest over rising air pollution levels in Delhi.During a press conference, BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi said that the “real face” of protestors was out soon as they started raising slogans in support of a slain Naxal commander.”Some people reached India Gate with a mask on their faces that they are there to protest against the pollution. The masks were off as soon as they reached there, and the real face was out, and they started raising slogans in support of a slain Naxal commander,” the BJP leader said.He also latched on the incident to target Congress and claimed that the party “dreams” of coming to power with the support of the extremists.”The PM has said that the Congress has become the Muslim League-Maoist. More than the air pollution, the pollution of Marx and Mao is denser in their brains. Along with that, they dream of coming to power with the support of extremist ‘Kathmullas’. This is even more dangerous,” Trivedi said.This comes after visuals from the Sunday protest at India Gate showed the demonstrators holding posters of Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, who was recently killed in an encounter.”A protest was held this evening at C Hexagon, India Gate, over pollution. But the protesters were holding posters of Maoist commander Madvi Hidma. When they tried to block the road, the police tried to remove them, but they sprayed pepper spray on the police personnel and tried to attack them. The police are now taking legal action against them,” ANI quoted Delhi Police saying.Hidma, a CPI(M) central committee member and the secretary of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, was killed on November 18 along with his wife, Rajje, and four other Maoists in the Maredumilli forests of Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitarama Raju district. Security forces had said the group initiated firing during a cordon-and-search operation, sparking an extended encounter.Meanwhile, Delhi Police also arrested 15 activist on charges of obstructing its personnel and assaulting them, besides blocking the road during the protest.Patiala House Court remanded 5 accused in 2 days’ judicial custody. The court has asked the police to file a copy of the videos in the court. Additionally, the court asked to send one accused to a safe house till his age is verified, as he has claimed to be a minor.The situation at the protest escalated as some demonstrators allegedly used pepper spray on police personnel while being removed from the scene, the official said.”The situation then turned into a scuffle, and some protesters used pepper spray on our personnel, which is unusual and rare,” the officer said, adding that so far, police have arrested at least 15 protesters.When asked about slogans allegedly raised in support of Maoist leader Madvi Hidma, the officer said they are probing the matter from all angles.The Delhi Coordination Committee for Clean Air, in a statement, said the city’s worsening air quality has become a “serious risk” to public health and alleged that authorities have failed to address the root causes of pollution.It further alleged that air quality has remained in the “severe” category, while the government relies on “cosmetic measures” such as water sprinklers, cloud seeding and spraying near Air Quality Index (AQI) stations instead of finding long-term solutions to tackle the issue.Meanwhile, Scientists for Society (SFS), one of the organisations that participated in Sunday’s “Delhi Against Clean Air” protest here, has distanced itself from certain groups that allegedly raised slogans unrelated to the protest’s central theme of air pollution.In a statement issued on Monday, the SFS said it had joined the protest “solely on the issue of pollution” and emphasised that the primary objective of the demonstration was to highlight Delhi’s severe air quality crisis, educate citizens, and question what they described as the government’s “failure and unwillingness” to act.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. 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The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Enemies of the Nation Are Our Enemies’Owaisi Condemns Delhi Blast’Double Trade By 2030′: Piyush Goyal’s Big Remarks As India, Canada Agree To Resume FTA TalksTejas Crash: HAL Issues Clarification As Court Of Inquiry Probes Wing Commander Namansh Syal’s DeathDelhi Air Pollution Protest At India Gate Turns Violent Amid ‘Madvi Hidma Amar Rahe’ SlogansRajnath Singh’s Sindh Comment Sparks Pakistan Fury As Islamabad Labels India ‘Expansionist’ AgainINS Mahe Commissioned As Indian Navy’s New Aatmanirbhar Submarine Killer For Stronger Coastal ShieldSuicide Bombers Storm Pakistan’s FC Headquarters In Peshawar As Explosions Rock High-Security ZoneJustice Surya Kant, Known For Article 370 Ruling And Pegasus Scrutiny, Takes Oath As India’s New CJI’We May Have Run Away!’: Cyril Ramaphosa’s Joke To PM Modi on Hosting G20 Summit Sparks LaughterHow AQ Khan Became ‘Merchant Of Death’ And Triggered Musharraf’s Outrage, Reveals Ex CIA Operative123PhotostoriesFrom Dharmendra to Dev Anand: Veteran style icons who shaped Bollywood’s fashion historyFrom Nushrratt Bharuccha to Tiger Shroff: Bollywood stars stuck in repetitive on-screen images10 most effective natural hacks to permanently get rid of mice and rats at homeDelhi’s bold vision: Luxury metro coaches, tunnels and pod taxisSticking out: 8 animals with incredibly long tonguesAkshay Kumar’s discipline and fitness lessons for childrenSadhguru reveals how many times you must chew each bite for better digestionRemembering Dharmendra: Pall of gloom descends on Mumbai’s Sunny Villa, last rites performed at Vile Parle crematorium; celebrities, fans pay tributesWork picks up on Rs 621 crore Anna Salai flyover in Chennai as spans arrive10 phrases that can calm down an angry child123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayNew Labour CodeChennai rainGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingNew Labour LawsIslam MakhachevCola Social Security PaymentsBrittany MahomesCanada Citizenship ActDelhi ProtestSmriti Mandhana WeddingJack HughesRama Raju MantenaFortnite Chapter 7 Leaked
NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday said that the “pollution of Marx and Mao” is denser in the brains of the agitators after slogans condemning Naxal commander Hidma’s encounter were raised during a protest over rising air pollution levels in Delhi.During a press conference, BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi said that the “real face” of protestors was out soon as they started raising slogans in support of a slain Naxal commander.“Some people reached India Gate with a mask on their faces that they are there to protest against the pollution. The masks were off as soon as they reached there, and the real face was out, and they started raising slogans in support of a slain Naxal commander,” the BJP leader said.He also latched on the incident to target Congress and claimed that the party “dreams” of coming to power with the support of the extremists.“The PM has said that the Congress has become the Muslim League-Maoist. More than the air pollution, the pollution of Marx and Mao is denser in their brains. Along with that, they dream of coming to power with the support of extremist ‘Kathmullas’. This is even more dangerous,” Trivedi said.This comes after visuals from the Sunday protest at India Gate showed the demonstrators holding posters of Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, who was recently killed in an encounter.“A protest was held this evening at C Hexagon, India Gate, over pollution. But the protesters were holding posters of Maoist commander Madvi Hidma. When they tried to block the road, the police tried to remove them, but they sprayed pepper spray on the police personnel and tried to attack them. The police are now taking legal action against them,” ANI quoted Delhi Police saying.Hidma, a CPI(M) central committee member and the secretary of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, was killed on November 18 along with his wife, Rajje, and four other Maoists in the Maredumilli forests of Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitarama Raju district. Security forces had said the group initiated firing during a cordon-and-search operation, sparking an extended encounter.Meanwhile, Delhi Police also arrested 15 activist on charges of obstructing its personnel and assaulting them, besides blocking the road during the protest.Patiala House Court remanded 5 accused in 2 days’ judicial custody. The court has asked the police to file a copy of the videos in the court. Additionally, the court asked to send one accused to a safe house till his age is verified, as he has claimed to be a minor.The situation at the protest escalated as some demonstrators allegedly used pepper spray on police personnel while being removed from the scene, the official said.“The situation then turned into a scuffle, and some protesters used pepper spray on our personnel, which is unusual and rare,” the officer said, adding that so far, police have arrested at least 15 protesters.When asked about slogans allegedly raised in support of Maoist leader Madvi Hidma, the officer said they are probing the matter from all angles.The Delhi Coordination Committee for Clean Air, in a statement, said the city’s worsening air quality has become a “serious risk” to public health and alleged that authorities have failed to address the root causes of pollution.It further alleged that air quality has remained in the “severe” category, while the government relies on “cosmetic measures” such as water sprinklers, cloud seeding and spraying near Air Quality Index (AQI) stations instead of finding long-term solutions to tackle the issue.Meanwhile, Scientists for Society (SFS), one of the organisations that participated in Sunday’s “Delhi Against Clean Air” protest here, has distanced itself from certain groups that allegedly raised slogans unrelated to the protest’s central theme of air pollution.In a statement issued on Monday, the SFS said it had joined the protest “solely on the issue of pollution” and emphasised that the primary objective of the demonstration was to highlight Delhi’s severe air quality crisis, educate citizens, and question what they described as the government’s “failure and unwillingness” to act.
