Congress leader Hardik Patel was slapped by a man later identified as Tarun Gajjar while addressing a "Jan Akrosh" (public anger) rally in Surendranagar in Gujarat today.

Hardik Patel, who only recently joined the Congress, was stunned by the blow before recovering and confronting his attacker. The video of the assault then shows the man being overpowered and dragged away. He has filed a police complaint against his attacker, who has been admitted to hospital.

Speaking to ANI after the incident, the attacker explained his actions, saying the Hardik Patel-led agitation in the state had affected the health of his wife and child. The attacker was brutally beaten after the incident and according to the SP Surendranagar, the man identified as Tarun Gajjar has no political affiliations.