On Wednesday morning, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was allegedly attacked during a "Jan Sunwai" (public hearing) meeting at her residence in Civil Lines. The incident, which unfolded in a mere 80 seconds, has sparked outrage and concern over the safety of public officials.

The attacker, identified as Rajesh Bhai Kimji Bhai Sakariya, a 41-year-old man from Rajkot, Gujarat, reportedly gained access to the Chief Minister's camp office by posing as a complainant. According to sources present at the scene, the man approached Gupta with some court papers under the guise of submitting documents. However, after handing over the papers, he allegedly grabbed her hand and attempted to pull her towards him.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva stated that during the ensuing scuffle, the Chief Minister may have suffered a "light blow to the head" after it "touched a corner a little". Other reports suggest that the attacker slapped her and pulled her hair as she stumbled. Sachdeva dismissed claims that stones were thrown or that Gupta was slapped, calling such reports "fabricated". However, sources from the Chief Minister's office described the episode as a "serious physical assault".

Security personnel immediately intervened, apprehending the attacker and taking him into police custody. Senior police officers, including Delhi Police Commissioner SBK Singh, rushed to the scene, and an investigation is underway. The Delhi Police are coordinating with Gujarat police to gather more information about the accused.

Following the attack, Gupta was examined by doctors and is reported to be stable but in a state of shock. Despite the incident, Sachdeva affirmed that Gupta is a "strong woman" and remains committed to her responsibilities. He added that the Jan Sunwai program would continue and that Gupta would not cancel her scheduled programs.

The attack has drawn strong condemnation from various political figures. Former Chief Ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi, as well as the Congress party, have denounced the violence and called for strict action against the perpetrator. Leader of Opposition Atishi stated that "In a democracy, there is a place for disagreement and protest, but there is no place for violence". Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi raised concerns about the safety of ordinary citizens if the Chief Minister is unsafe under central-controlled policing. Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav also expressed concern about women's safety in Delhi following the attack.

The motive behind the attack remains under investigation. While some reports suggest that Sakariya wanted to seek the CM's help for a relative who had been arrested, his family claims that his primary motivation was his anger over a recent Supreme Court order regarding stray dogs in Delhi-NCR. Sakariya's mother told reporters that he is a passionate dog lover and was disturbed by the court's directive to round up stray dogs and move them to shelters.

The incident has raised concerns about security protocols for public officials and the need to ensure the safety of citizens during public events. Authorities are reviewing security measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.