Delhi Anti-CEC Protest: BJP Alleges Rahul Gandhi Pushed Woman Cop, Priyanka Elbowed Officer
The political showdown over the INDIA bloc’s protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar escalated on Thursday when Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were blamed by the BJP for manhandling women police officials at their protest in New Delhi on Wednesday.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep BJP Bhandari shared a video on social media, alleging that Rahul Gandhi tried to shove a woman police officer during the protest. A video was also being shared online where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is seen slapping a woman police officer with her elbow.
BJP Co Convenor Arun Yadav also took a dig at Priyanka Gandhi for the incident, calling it “unacceptable” as it occurred during the protest as an opposition party.
The allegations have not been substantiated by themselves and the videos have been brought out by the BJP to substantiate the claims.
FIR Against Rahul And Priyanka Gandhi
The development follows Delhi Police filing an FIR against Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for the protest held on Wednesday.
Police sources said the case is connected to the charges of assaulting police officers and obstructing government work. Others involved in the protest who are also members of the Congress have also been identified.
Police arrested 91 people including some Opposition MPs and leaders, at the protest. Police are investigating the claims and the opinions of the individuals involved.
Officers are also looking at video from mobile phones in connection with reports of altercations and police “handling”, which included female police officers.
The opposition protested against CEC Gyanesh Kumar
The protest was called off by the INDIA bloc parties due to alleged errors in electoral lists and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Opposition leaders have claimed that the Election Commission was engaged in electoral irregularities and have asked the resignation of its Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar.
The protest was called off by Rahul Gandhi who led the protest saying the Opposition would be holding the protest till the resignation of the CEC.
Police broke up the protesters who were coming to Jantar Mantar, but not before it had reached the area they had chosen to protest at. The incident came on the heels of a lunch meet of the opposition MPs, convened by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
The women leaders who have been arrested include Priyanka Gandhi.
The protest saw some dramatic moments when the Congress woman Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other women Opposition leaders sat on the road holding copies of the Constitution.
The women leaders were then taken out of the area by police and arrested with others protesting against the move. Rahul Gandhi, along with other Opposition leaders, was also arrested, but later released.
The protests were the second day in a row of opposition leaders protesting against the Election Commission on the streets.
BJP And Opposition Trade Allegations
The BJP has exploited the footage of the alleged clashes with police officers to attack the Congress leaders, and the Opposition has alleged that the police had resorted to undue force to quell their protest.
During the clash, Priyanka Gandhi had claimed that police officers had assaulted and dragged away protesters. The Congress and other parties of the INDIA bloc have insisted that their protest is to highlight their concerns over the electoral process.
The controversy is now to be an ongoing one as the Opposition’s larger campaign for accountability for the election commission regarding the electoral roll revision process plays out.