Bhanuben Sakaria, the mother of Rajesh Sakaria, a 41-year-old auto-rickshaw driver accused of attacking Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during a 'Jan Sunwai' programme at her Civil Lines camp office, told reporters in Rajkot, Gujarat, that her son has no political affiliations. I

nstead, she claimed Rajesh, a resident of Gokul Park on Kotharia Road, traveled to Delhi to protest a recent Supreme Court order mandating the relocation of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to shelters, a ruling that sparked outrage among animal lovers. “He loves dogs, cows, and birds. That’s why he was upset after the SC said all the stray dogs in Delhi should be captured,” Bhanuben said, noting he had visited Haridwar before heading to Delhi.

The attack occurred when Rajesh allegedly handed Gupta papers before slapping her and pulling her hair, leading to his immediate detention by Delhi Police. Sources suggest he may have also sought Gupta’s help for a relative in Tihar Jail, though Bhanuben emphasized his animal welfare motive.

Rajkot police questioned her after the incident, which left Gupta stable but in shock, requiring medical attention. Delhi BJP leaders, including Manjinder Singh Sirsa, alleged a political conspiracy, while opposition leaders like AAP’s Atishi and Congress’s Devender Yadav condemned the violence, with Yadav highlighting broader women’s safety concerns in Delhi.

Posts on X from @htTweets and @VigilntHindutva amplified Bhanuben’s claim that Rajesh’s actions stemmed from his distress over the stray dog ruling, though @TIgerNS3 controversially linked him to AAP, a claim unverified by police.

The incident, coupled with Gupta’s support for the Supreme Court’s August 11 order, has intensified debates over stray dog management and public safety, with Delhi Police probing whether Rajesh acted alone or as part of a larger protest group.

Also Read: Delhi CM Attack: AAP, Congress Condemn Incident, Raise Safety Fears

Also Read: Delhi CM Attack: AAP, Congress Condemn Incident, Raise Safety Fears