[Horrific] BJP MLA thrashes a horse, breaks its leg

You may have heard about instances of the saffron brigade's intolerance to a point of view which is at odds with its own, but have you ever imagined that intolerance could spill over to one for innocent animals?

That's what has precisely happened with a BJP MLA from Uttarakhand, Ganesh Joshi, mercilessly beating up a police horse with a lathi in Dehradun on Monday, leaving the poor animal with a bloodied and broken leg.

Did the legislator perhaps think the horse was an anti-national and had to be taught a lesson?

The incident took place during a protest organised by the BJP against the Congress government and chief minister Harish Rawat. Mounted police had been stationed to keep a check on the protests.

Soon, a scuffle broke out and Joshi, the sitting legislator from Mussoorie, can be seen on camera striking at the legs of the police mount.

Soon, the left hind leg of the horse was bleeding and it had to be carried off in a veterinary ambulance.

This incident drew widespread condemnation. "You are using lathi on a horse? I think the word 'tolerance' is not there in the dictionary of BJP," chief minister Rawat was quoted as saying by ANI.

You are using lathi on a horse? I think the word "tolerance" is not there in the dictionary of BJP: Uttarakhand CM pic.twitter.com/V5eF3BncYJ

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 14, 2016

Visuals of BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi lathi-charging the horse during BJP protest against state Government earlier today. pic.twitter.com/Ct2OQiLlRz

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 14, 2016

The horse-beating MLA Joshi offered a different explanation:

The horse wasnt given any water throughout the day: BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi on injuring the horse during BJP protest pic.twitter.com/TXzhYu9ueN

— ANI (@ANI_news) March 14, 2016 

 Here's how social media reacted:

BJP MLA: Hey Horse, don't you think Modi is best? Horse: Neigh. BJP MLA: MARO ISKO!!!!

— Devaiah Bopanna (@devaiahPB) March 14, 2016

BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi beat up a horse.probably bcoz the horse was not saying Bharat Mata Ki Jai.With no respect,Bharat Mata doesnt need u.

— thesroy (@Shilpa2_2) March 14, 2016

Video of BJP MLA beating a horse mercilessly is beyond heart breaking. Is this MLA human??

— Shabana (@shabanais) March 14, 2016

Just heard that a BJP MLA beat up a horse. A horse?! It would have been understandable if they had beaten up a Muslim but a horse?!

— karmicanomaly (@karmicanomaly) March 14, 2016

Legs of the police horse that BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi allegedly beat up has to be amputated, according to reports. What a cruel, pitiless man

— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) March 14, 2016