AAP leader Somnath Bharti beaten up in Varanasi

Varanasi, April 23 (IANS) AAP leader and former Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti was beaten up allegedly by some BJP supporters during a TV show here Wednesday evening, police and Aam Aadmi Party leaders said.

The incident took place at Assi Ghat in Varanasi when Bharti was attending a TV show of a news channel.

The window panes of Bharti's car were broken, and his driver was also attacked.

"Bharti was badly beaten up by Bharatiya Janata Party workers. These kind of attacks are expected because the Aam Aadmi Party has been doing very well in Varanasi. As today's rally was well attended, it frustrated the BJP workers," AAP spokesperson Nagendra Sharma told IANS.

Bharti was involved in a controversial midnight campaign at Khirki Extension area of south Delhi where he accused Ugandan nationals of being involved in prostitution and drug trafficking.

Confirming Wednesday's attack on Bharti, a Varanasi police official told IANS: "No official complaint has been lodged by the aggrieved party."

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Varanasi, told reporters: "We won't be filing an FIR (against Bharti's attackers)."