A different battle for Nagma

While her opponents are concentrating on devising better electoral strategy, actor-turned-politician Nagma, the Congress candidate from here, was busy in formulating a strategy to shield herself from the “preying mobs” in this Lok Sabha constituency.

Campaigning in Meerut for several days now, Nagma has been subjected to alleged groping, molestation and harassment more than once in different parts of the constituency. She has now hired private security guards and bouncers for her safety.

At a meeting in the Jallikoti area of Meerut on Thursday night, Nagma was virtually mobbed when she arrived to address a large crowd. Her security guards had to make a circle around her as some people from the crowd advanced toward her menacingly.

The actor was reportedly groped by a youth, whom she was seen slapping in a bid to save herself. Local Congress leaders, however, denied that she was abused.

“Main apki behen ki tarah hoon. Aapke ghar mein bhi behne, matayen hongi (I am like your sister. You too will have sisters and mothers at home),” Nagma kept pleading with the crowd, but to little avail. She had to be literally rescued from the meeting venue.

Earlier, too, local Congress legislator Gajraj Singh had allegedly tried to “kiss” Nagma at an event. Sexagenarian Singh was seen grabbing Nagma's face and turning it toward him. The actor was seen angrily removing his hand and walking away without speaking.

Though the entire episode was captured by local TV channels, which aired them continuously, the 39-year-old denied having been molested.

Local Congress sources said the party had deliberately tried to downplay the incident and no action was taken against the legislator as the party did not want to “annoy” Singh, an influential politician, whose support would be crucial for Nagma.

A local Congress leader told Deccan Herald that Nagma could also have been a victim of conspiracy by some powerful district-level party leaders who do not want her to contest from Meerut.

The leader said an attempt was made to prevent Nagma from filing nomination papers last week.