AAP accuses Vijay Goel of trying to hit woman at Delhi event, BJP leader denies charge

The AAP on Monday accused BJP leader Vijay Goel, who has been waging a campaign against the stray dog menace in the city, of trying to hit a woman during an event here, a charge vehemently denied by the former Union minister.A purported video clip of the incident went viral on social media in which Goel could be seen being argued with by some people including women.

The AAP on Monday accused BJP leader Vijay Goel, who has been waging a campaign against the stray dog menace in the city, of trying to hit a woman during an event here, a charge vehemently denied by the former Union minister.

A purported video clip of the incident went viral on social media in which Goel could be seen being argued with by some people including women. The clip also shows him objecting to a female participant of the event making his video.

Goel said that a group of people who claimed to be dog lovers were trying to disturb his meeting to discuss the stray dog menace in the city.

''A fake video is being spread against me on social media. You also see, I neither hit the woman nor snatched anyone's phone. @PMOIndia @BJP4India @BJP4Delhi @AamAadmiParty @INCIndia,'' Goel tweeted with a video.

When contacted, Goel told PTI that a group of people including some women met me, but they were arguing with me and creating nuisance at the event. ''They were later removed from the venue of the programme by the police,'' he said.

''The video does not show me hitting anyone. Has any complaint been filed against me by anyone for hitting him or her?'' Goel asked.

The AAP shared a video on Twitter alleging that the incident showed ''anti-women'' face of the BJP.

''The anti-women face of the BJP exposed again. BJP leader Vijay Goel lunged to hit a woman when asked a question. BJP is a party of goons and rapists,'' AAP tweeted from its official handle.

Delhi minister Saurabh Bhardwaj also shared the video on his twitter handle demanding an FIR against Goel.

''Please register the FIR. This is a cognizable offence @CPDelhi @LtGovDelhi,'' Bhardwaj tweeted.

A statement from Goel's office said that attempt was being made to defame his movement seeking solution to the problem of dog bites.

''Intentionally people come to disrupt Goel's meeting again and again. In the video, he is seen saying to someone 'Why are you recording?' He neither hit any woman nor snatched anyone's mobile,'' said the statement.

Goel also said that his campaign was to prevent incidents of stray dog bite in the national capital and that he was not against canines.

''The aim of my meetings is to aware the people about the menace of street dogs. There are four crore cases of dog bites across the country every year. In Delhi alone, 150-200 incidents of dog bites happen,'' the former Delhi BJP president said.

Goel has been holding meetings with locals in different areas of the city for the past several weeks over the issue. The alleged incident happened on the sidelines of one such meeting at Model Town on Sunday morning.

Police said no complaint was received from anyone against Goel.