New Delhi, March 23: Hitting out at the ruling dispensation following the mob attack on a Muslim family in Gurugram, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said such communal assaults stem due to the "bigotry" being channelised by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Minority Community Members in Haryana's Gurugram Thrashed, Asked to 'Go to Pakistan'.

"Every patriotic Indian is disgusted by the video of a family in Gurugram being mercilessly beaten by hooligans. The RSS-BJP channelises bigotry and hatred for political power," Rahul Gandhi said.

The Congress chief warned the nation of societal disharmony and harmful consequences if the divisive ideology is not challenged. "This incident serves as a warning of the dangerous consequences and the dark side of that strategy," he added.

Here's What Rahul Gandhi Tweeted:

The family, residing in Bhup Singh Nagar, was physically assaulted by a group of nearly 40 youths on Thursday, when Holi was being celebrated across the nation. The miscreants also pelted stones on their house, apart from filming the entire sequence of attack.

In the videos which went viral on social media, the women of the house were seen pleading before the attackers to stop assaulting their children.

According to Shahid, one of the victims, the fight erupted between the family and the hooligans at around 5pm, when members of the house were playing cricket outside. At least 6-7 drunk people on the road objected and asked them to stop playing.

When the family did not heed to their warning, the miscreants called up at least 40 more people, said Shahid, who came along with iron rods, batons and water pipes.

As Shahid and his kin attempted to rush inside, some of them entered in the house and began viciously beating them with sticks. "The attack was not spontaneous. A local Hindutva group were planning to assault us. They are behind this," said one of the victims.

The police, which has arrested at least six miscreants and booked some of them under attempt to murder charge, has not found any evidence so far which link the attack to a conspiracy by any Hindutva outfit.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 24, 2019 12:17 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).