The assault took place at a public function at the NDMC centre in the heart of the city when Harvinder Singh suddenly emerged from among a group of journalists and took a walking Pawar by surprise.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader momentarily lost balance but immediately recovered.

An aide turned around and repeatedly fisted the attacker, a young aggressive Sikh who had Saturday similarly kicked former cabinet minister Sukh Ram in a court complex after he was jailed for corruption.

Even as he was taken away to a police lock-up to be produced before a court Friday, Harvinder Singh remained defiant.

Dressed in a blue striped T-shirt, the turbaned Sikh unleashed a small kirpan as security guards tried to pin him down.

"Sab chor hain... cheer doonga... cheer doonga (They are all thieves. I will rip them apart)," he shouted as he was led away. He told reporters he was fed up with rising food prices and corruption.

He said he was no terrorist. "Annaji (Hazare) kept on pleading with folded hands to pass the Lokpal Bill but they didn't... We have had enough and people have been harassed too much by these politicians."

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi telephoned Pawar to express their concern. Pawar downplayed the incident and urged his fuming party workers in Maharashtra to remain calm.

"As I walked after attending a function, some media people stopped and asked me some questions. As I took a step ahead, a hand came ... and just passed through my face," Pawar told reporters.

He said the attacker "was abusing some political parties and leaders".

"In my last 50 year of political career, I did not have any personal enmity with anyone... There may have been political differences. I don't understand why this effort was made."

Harvinder Singh was charged with various offences including assaulting a public servant, criminal intimidation and attempt to commit suicide.

The Congress promptly blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the incident, saying statements from BJP leaders hinting that people disgusted with price rise could turn nasty had led to Thursday's attack.

BJP leader Yashwant Sinha denounced the linkage, saying he too was unhappy over the attack on Pawar.

Pawar, who doesn't accept any security beside a single constable, said he won't accept more police personnel for his protection even after what happened Thursday.

But NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal insisted that the central government should improve Pawar's security. Another party leader, Tariq Anwar, wondered what would have happened if the attacker had used his kirpan.

Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare, who has blamed politicians for much of India's ills, first said: "Was it only one slap?"

Once he realised the gravity of what had happened, he clarified: "He (the attackers) could have been angry but it is not right to hit someone. Our democracy does not allow such attacks."

Pawar was not amused by Hazare's first reaction. The minister said tongue in cheek: "He might be coming out with a new definition of Gandhian thoughts."

Pawar's daughter and NCP MP Supriya Sule said the incident should be forgotten. "Whatever happened is unfortunate. Everybody has the right to protest in a democracy, but violence has to be condemned."

Pawar is the senior-most politician to be attacked in this manner. But many politicians have faced the wrath of angry individuals.

In April 2009, a journalist, Jarnail Singh, hurled a shoe at Home Minister P. Chidambaram but it missed him.

Shoes have also been hurled at BJP leaders L.K. Advani and B.S. Yeddyurappa, Manmohan Singh himself, and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. All of them missed the mark.

Comment

comments...

Wow !!!!!!!! When thousands of innocent people had beaten up severely in ramalila ground, These Politicians were pointing towards police & they were defending. Even our prime minister told there was no way other than this. After this slap. Now politicians are united to say " there is no place for violence in democracy " All ministers & prime minister condemn & call to Mr. slap within a hour after incident. This is how india ruled by our politicians ....

Shekhar