New Delhi: A video showing a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader assaulting a woman with a stick in Bahri market area in Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi district went viral on social media on Sunday (February 8). The Congress party have criticised the Mohan Yadav-led BJP government for increase in “incidents of assault against women by BJP leaders” across the state.The incident occurred in the Sihawal assembly constituency. BJP leader Santosh Pathak is accused of attacking the woman with sticks and fists. The police have registered a case against the accused based on the woman’s complaint, according to a Times of India report. TOI identified the person as a Youtube influencer. As per the complaint, the woman ran a roadside stall and Pathak had earlier forced her to remove it from the spot.Reacting to the video, Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Jitu Patwari criticised the BJP in a post on X. He wrote, “Pradhanmantri Narendra Modi ne kaha tha Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao, lekin yeh kehna bhool gaye ki BJP netaon se hi betiyon ko bachao. Aaj Sidhi mein ek behen ke saath BJP neta ne laathi se berahmi se maarpeet ki (Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao, but forgot to say that daughters should also be protected from BJP leaders themselves. Today in Sidhi, a woman was brutally beaten with a stick by a BJP leader).”Further, he alleged, “Poore pradesh mein BJP netaon dwara behnon ke saath maarpeet ki ghatnayein badh rahi hain. Satta ke ahankaar mein BJP ke gunde ab pradesh ki behnon par atyachar karne par utar aaye hain (The incidents of assault against women by BJP leaders are increasing across the state. Drunk on power, BJP goons have now started targeting the women of the state with acts of violence).” “Ab yahi behnein in BJP netaon ko satta se bahar kar jawab dengi (Now these very women will respond by kicking these BJP leaders out of power).”Patwari also held chief minister Mohan Yadav, who holds the home portfolio, responsible for ensuring women’s safety, and accused him of failing in that duty.प्रधानमंत्री @narendramodi ने कहा था बेटी पढ़ाओ बेटी बचाओ, लेकिन वह कहना भूल गए कि भाजपा नेताओं से ही बेटियों को बचाओ।आज सीधी में एक बहन के साथ भाजपा नेता द्वारा लाठी से बेरहमी से मारपीट की गई।पूरे प्रदेश में भाजपा नेताओं द्वारा बहनों के साथ मारपीट की घटनाएं बढ़ रही हैं।… pic.twitter.com/3nvhh6byLW— Jitendra (Jitu) Patwari (@jitupatwari) February 8, 2026Similarly, in a post on X, Madhya Pradesh unit of the Congress party demanded Pathak’s arrest.“This is the same BJP that puts on a sham of worshiping girls on stages for votes, while on the ground, it shields those who trample on women. Mohan Ji, will your incompetent home minister still evade responsibility for this incident? If there’s even a shred of ethics left in power, then register a case against Santosh Pathak immediately and have him arrested,” the party wrote.मोहन बाबू के राज में “लाड़ली बहना” की हक़ीक़त देखिए!⦿ अराजक सरकार के संरक्षण में मध्यप्रदेश की सिहावल विधानसभा में भाजपा नेता संतोष पाठक सरेआम एक महिला को बर्बरता से पीटते नज़र आ रहे हैं।⦿ यही है वह भाजपा, जो वोट के लिए मंचों पर बालिकाओं को पूजने का ढोंग करती है, और ज़मीन… pic.twitter.com/4QRr8Ynyw3— MP Congress (@INCMP) February 8, 2026