New Delhi:
Harvinder Singh, the man who slapped Union Minister Sharad Pawar at a public function yesterday, said he did not need a lawyer, and added, "I will repeat it again," during his appearance in a Delhi court today.
He has been sent to 14-day judicial custody.
Yesterday, Mr Pawar was slapped by Harvinder at the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) headquarters in New Delhi. The incident occurred while he was leaving the building premises after attending a literary function.
Harvinder Singh reportedly blamed Pawar for rising prices of essential commodities.
"This is my answer to corrupt politicians," he shouted while he was being whisked away by security guards soon after the incident.
Harvinder Singh was arrested by the Delhi Police. He has been charged with attempted suicide, assault and criminal intimidation.
He is the same person who had slapped former Telecom Minister Sukhram inside the premises of a Delhi court earlier this month. This happened on the day Sukhram was sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment in a corruption case dating back to 1996.
Pawar heads the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) which is a key ally of the Congress at the Centre.
As soon as the news of the attack trickled in yesterday, there were reports of tension and sporadic violence in several parts of Maharashtra. NCP workers blocked the Mumbai-Agra National Highway (NH4) near Nagpur to protest the attack. The party also called for a Pune bandh on Friday.
The minister however urged his party activists to maintain calm. "Let the law take its own course," he said.