BJP's Gautam Gambhir says attack on Gurgaon Muslim man is deplorable; Party members caution him

NEW DELHI: Newly-elected Gautam Gambhir tweeted condemning the attack on a Muslim man in Gurgaon. This seems to have not gone down well with his fellow party members.

Mohammed Barakat Alam, 25, said he was returning from evening prayers on Saturday when he was set upon by a rowdy gang who knocked off his skullcap and ordered him to chant "Jai Shri Ram". He alleged that he was manhandled when he refused.

Gautam's tweet read:

"In Gurugram Muslim man told to remove skullcap,chant Jai Shri Ram".

It is deplorable. Exemplary action needed by Gurugram authorities. We are a secular nation where @Javedakhtarjadu writes "ओ पालन हारे, निर्गुण और न्यारे" & @RakeyshOmMehra gave us d song "अर्ज़ियाँ" in Delhi 6."

Cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir made an impressive debut in parliament by winning the East Delhi Lok Sabha seat. He took to Twitter and said the attacks on the Muslim man in Guragon is deplorable. However, a section of BJP leaders expressed their reservations over his tweet, citing the leader's words have the potential to be used against the BJP. Twitterati also had their two cents to give over the incident.

Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said the newly elected leader reacted with innocence in the matter. "People need to be cautious so that they are not misled by such rumours. East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir has reacted with innocence to this matter," he said in a statement.

A senior Delhi BJP leader added, "Gambhir is no longer a cricketer and he should realise that his words and actions will be seen through the prism of politics. Nobody likes such incidents but what is the use of commenting on an incident in Haryana which may be used against the BJP by other parties," said a senior Delhi BJP leader.

Gurgaon Police has registered a case and has taken the CCTV footage to identify the culprits. No one has been arrested in connection to the case yet.