Congress workers catch fire while burning Modi's effigy

Shimla: A protest rally held by Congress workers on Monday against NDA government turned violent when the activists accidentally caught fire while trying to burn Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s effigy.The protest was held against the targeting of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi in National Herald case.

Five congress workers were reportedly sustained serious injuries, among them one activist Manoj Adhikari got burnt severely and was rushed to Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) hospital.

The protest was lead by PCC president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu at Deputy Commissioner’s office after the party's call for State-wide protests. Mr. Singh had a narrow escape as he was pushed aside by one the party workers before the effigy went up in flames.

PCC Chief spokesperson Naresh Chauhan said that things happened all of a sudden and major untoward incident got averted as one the activist was alert. He further said that no body has been seriously injured while some activists suffered minor burns.

One of the part activist said, "A sikh man was carried a bottle filled with petrol and poured on the effigy and the fire flared-up and engulfed some of the activists."

Others present at the protest were PCC general secretary Harbhajan Singh Bhajji and Chief Parliamentary secretary Rajesh Dharmani.

However, BJP General Secretary Rajeev Bindal condemned the Congress action of burning PMs effigy. He said that this was done to deviate public from the corruption charges faced by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.