Mr Sharma was video-taped and photographed on Monday towering over the Left leader who he flattened on the ground. (PTI photo)
BJP legislator OP Sharma was arrested today at around 6 pm for thrashing a Left activist at a Delhi court this week and granted bail within an hour.
The politician claims that
he is the injured party. "If anti-nationals slogans are chanted, and if this is what's going to happen to people who try to stop things, then then I don't have anything to say," he said, adding that he was interrogated for more than eight hours today.
Mr Sharma was video-taped and photographed on Monday towering over the Left leader, Ameeque Jamai, who he flattened on the ground, the politician's hands at his throat. Mr Sharma said he had been hit first and then retaliated, both in defense of himself and the country.
His attack was a coda to the outbursts of violence by belligerent lawyers who struck out at reporters, students and teachers gathered for the court hearing of Kanhaiya Kumar, the student leader from Jawaharlal University or JNU, who has been arrested for seditious behavior. The government and the police claim that Mr Kumar shouted incendiary remarks against India at a university event last week, a charge he denies.
Yesterday, the same lawyers who rioted on Monday targeted reporters again and Mr Kumar was kicked and punched as he was taken into court. Some of the lawyers involved said they were "exercising our duty" and would not "tolerate anti-nationals", a group, which according to them, includes anyone who opposes or questions Mr Kumar's arrest.
Three lawyers seen as the main culprits in the violence at court have ignored police orders to appear for questioning.
The government has been accused by the opposition of cracking down on dissent in the name of patriotism, and despite growing student protests, it has held firm to its defense that Mr Kumar's arrest is warranted.