Union Minister for Railways, Coal and Corporate Affairs Piyush Goyal was allegedly attacked at a program in Lucknow by angry railway workers on Friday, November 16.
Goyal, who was speaking to workers at the Northern Railway Men’s Union annual convention held in the Railway Stadium, angered the crowd by saying that railways unions were “misleading” and “provoking” the workers. The crowd soon began sloganeering against the minister and chants of “Railway Minister murdabad” (down with the Railway Minister) were allegedly heard.
News18 journalist Qazi Faraz Ahmad reported that a flower pot was hurled at the minister after which he cut his speech short and ran for cover. Goyal is said to have sustained minor injuries.
Union Minister @PiyushGoyal allegedly attacked with flower pot as he criticized the employees union at railways function in Lucknow. He was allegedly hit by the pot and also suffered minor injuries allegedly. Chaos and slogans against Piyush Goyal followed as he left the venue. pic.twitter.com/3P4Fpp3Gr6
— Qazi Faraz Ahmad (@qazifarazahmad) November 16, 2018
Piyush Goyal was escorted out by security personnel following the sloganeering and alleged attack on him allegedly by railway employee union members. pic.twitter.com/uOJWwmMamr
— Qazi Faraz Ahmad (@qazifarazahmad) November 16, 2018
The sloganeering continued even as Goyal tried to escape, with a few workers reportedly chasing his car as he left. An Amar Ujala report even claims that the angered workers vandalised the minister’s vehicle by shattering its window. The report also adds that the workers surrounded Goyal for a bit, as he tried to escape, before he was shortly rescued by security forces.