26 March,2014 11:24 AM IST | | Agencies
AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal encounters hostile crowd in Varanasi; vows to defeat BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi
Arvind Kejriwal
Varanasi: AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal yesterday vowed to defeat BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi after arriving amid hostility from Modi supporters that triggered an ink attack.
Drama in the holy land: Arvind Kejriwal was attacked by ink bombs as he made his way to the rally ground in Varanasi; (below) he took a dip in the Ganga after visiting the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Pics/AFP,PTI
"I don't see Banaras as a losing battle. I will defeat Modi, in the Lok Sabha election," the former Delhi chief minister said, shortly after reaching Varanasi by train from New Delhi.
"Fighting against Modi is a small thing," said Kejriwal. "Saving the country from corruption is a big issue now."
Eggs were thrown at his car outside the Kashi Vishwanath temple, with protesters steadily raising anti-Kejriwal slogans and asking him to leave the Hindu holy city.
Calling him a traitor, hundreds of slogan-shouting people blocked his cavalcade while keeping up a steady chant of "Modi! Modi!".
Security personnel had a tough time controlling the crowd. The demonstrators said they only wanted Gujarat CM Narendra Modi to contest the Lok Sabha battle from Varanasi.
Later, as Kejriwal proceeded towards the rally ground in an open vehicle ringed by hundreds of supporters, ink was thrown at him.
The ink stained his face and clothes and also those of his party leaders Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh.
Ink missile
The man who threw the ink was identified as Ambrish, said to be a member of Hindu Vahini Sena. Police whisked him away. All through the route, many waved black flags and raised anti-AAP slogans.
