Chennai: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers have allegedly beaten up an elderly auto-rickshaw driver on Sunday after he dared to question the party state president Tamilisai Soundararajan about rising fuel price.

The victim, identified as Kathir, asked Soundararajan why fuel prices were rising, while she was addressing media in Saidapet.

Initially, Soundararajan didn’t reply to Kathir’s question. However, when he kept persisting, he was pushed aside by some BJP workers and thrashed.

“I just expressed my stress due to the increasing fuel prices. I did not have any intention to hurt the BJP leader. However, they beat me up,” Kathir told media, as reported.

Meanwhile, Soundararajan refuted all claims and said that BJP workers did not attack Kathir.

BJP workers, moreover, said that the auto driver was drunk.

“BJP workers did not assault him. If anyone attacked him, it is condemnable,” Soundararajan said.

On Tuesday, Soundararajan visited the driver's residence and apologised on the issue today.