Strong protest in Parliament against canecharge on BJP workers

New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday demanded a judicial inquiry into the police attack on its workers here that it said left many seriously injured.

Raising the issue during zero hour in the Rajya Sabha, BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu alleged that party workers, including Delhi unit president Vijender Gupta, were attacked without any provocation.

'Police used water cannons and started beating people,' Naidu said.

Replying, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said the BJP workers were stopped because they entered an area near the Jantar Mantar monument in the heart of the city reserved for some 5,000 Anganwadi women activists.

'Most (BJP activists) dispersed after the water cannon was used but some climbed on vehicles and, according to police, drivers were beaten up. So a lathicharge was done,' he said.

He said 28 BJP workers, two journalists and 15 police personnel were injured. Four suffered fractures.

The BJP claimed that more than 200 people were injured, 60 were in hospital, one woman lost one of eyes, 11 suffered broken hands or legs and one had a collar bone broken.