BJP slams Rahul Gandhi’s police station dharna as ‘cheap, anarchic’ politics

The BJP on Friday hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his dharna at the Parliament Street police station, accusing him of staging a political drama to divert attention from the Congress' position on the Vande Mataram row.

The remarks came on August 21, hours after Gandhi sat on the dharna with 19-year-old Sahil Lochab, demanding an FIR over the student's alleged pellet gun injuries during a July 20 protest.

Gandhi had reached the Parliament Street police station with Lochab, who was injured during the CJP-led protest at Jantar Mantar against the NEET paper leak and alleged examination irregularities. He had earlier taken Lochab to the Mandir Marg police station, where they sought registration of an FIR but did not get the response they were seeking.

At Parliament Street, Gandhi met New Delhi district DCP Sachin Sharma. When the meeting failed to resolve the issue, the Congress leader sat on a dharna at the police station, which also houses the DCP office. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh and other senior leaders later joined the protest.

Gandhi alleged that police officials told him an FIR could not be registered because there were "orders from the top". He said he would not leave until the case was registered.

The BJP questioned Gandhi's decision to stage the protest when the July 20 incident is already being examined through a legal process.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda accused Gandhi of using the student's case to gain political attention.

"Today, the entire nation has once again witnessed Rahul Gandhi's cheap and attention-diverting politics, which he displayed outside the Parliament Street police station.

"Rahul Gandhi's protest is neither for students nor for justice; it is a symbol of the Congress party's political frustration and Rahul Gandhi's hunger for footage," Nadda told reporters.

Nadda also linked the protest to the ongoing political controversy over Vande Mataram, alleging that the Congress was trying to shift focus after coming under criticism over its position on the national song.

"To hide the Congress' anti-national face and divert attention from embarrassment, Rahul Gandhi hastily staged this drama," he said.

The BJP leader questioned Gandhi's decision to protest when the Supreme Court has already taken cognisance of the July 20 incident and constituted a five-member high-powered committee to examine the matter.

"When the country's highest court is investigating the matter, what does Rahul Gandhi want to prove by sitting outside a police station in front of cameras? Has the Leader of Opposition lost faith in the judiciary?" Nadda said.

"This reflects his stubbornness and the frustration of the Congress," he added, accusing Gandhi of trying to create a confrontation instead of allowing the investigation to proceed.

Nadda said the country was governed by the Constitution, law and judicial procedures and not by "one family's stubbornness" or "love for cameras".

"People are seeking answers from the Congress and the Congress will have to answer," he said.

He also accused the Congress of avoiding parliamentary debate despite Union Home Minister Amit Shah's call for the opposition party to participate in discussions in Parliament.

BJP leader and MP Ravi Shankar Prasad also criticised Gandhi's protest, describing it as "anarchic politics" and alleging that the Congress was trying to divert attention after coming under pressure over the Vande Mataram issue.

"I have my doubts and allegations that the Congress is trapped over its stand on Vande Mataram and is trying to divert attention," Prasad told reporters.

Prasad also questioned Gandhi's decision to stage the dharna without permission or prior information and said the July 20 incident was already under investigation.

The BJP's criticism came after Gandhi publicly backed Lochab's demand for an FIR. Sources said the student had approached the police with his lawyers on August 14 and submitted a written complaint. The matter was followed up through email and phone on August 17, but there was no acknowledgement from the police, they said.

Lochab suffered injuries to his eye and abdomen during the July 20 protest and later underwent surgery at the AIIMS Trauma Centre. Gandhi has cited his medical records while questioning the police version of the incident.

"Three pellets were found in his eye. This is the hospital report which clearly states that. Delhi Police said they did not use pellet guns, but someone must have used pellet guns. The crime has happened as his body had pellets."

Delhi Police, meanwhile, said Lochab's complaint would be forwarded to the Crime Branch, which is already investigating complaints related to the July 20 protest.

"The New Delhi DCP is in touch with Gandhi. As the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police is probing all the complaints, Lochab's complaint will also be forwarded to the Crime Branch for further investigation."

The BJP's attack has added another political layer to the dispute, with the Congress demanding an FIR over Lochab's injuries and the ruling party insisting that the matter should be left to the ongoing investigation.

(With inputs from PTI)