10 injured as Akali, AAP supporters clash

Malout (Pb), Sep 3 (PTI) Ten persons were injured in aclash between AAP and Akali Dal supporters at a rallyaddressed by Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann here today, police said. The clash broke out when some youth Akali workers objectedto Bhagwant Mann allegedly criticising senior SAD leadersHarsimrat Kaur Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia, they said. The fight continued for a few minutes during which thesupporters of the rival parties hurled chairs at each other. An Akali worker alleged that Bhagwant Mann was talkingabout Harsimrat and Majithia "in bad taste" and some of theworkers raised objection over it. It was the AAP workers whoclashed with the Akalis, he claimed. AAP workers, however, claimed that Akali supportersclashed with them. The AAP workers later raised anti-Akali slogans andblocked the Malout-Delhi national highway to protest againstthe disruption of the rally. Stone-pelting was also reportedat the Malout grain market. "However, neither side has lodged any complaint so far," apolice spokesperson said. Meanwhile, condemning the disruption of the AAP rallyat Malout, AAP’s national spokesperson Jarnail Singh toldreporters in Chandigarh that with the growing support ofAAP among masses, opposition parties "have got frustrated andare adopting such tactics to create fear among AAP workers,who are courageous enough to give befitting reply to suchtactics". PTI CORR SUN CHT RGCHT