bjp-denounces-rahul-s-pellet-gun-protest-as-politics-of-anarchy

The BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of staging a “camera-centric” protest even as the Supreme Court-appointed panel probes the July 20 violence.

 

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday hit out at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi after he staged a sit-in outside the Parliament Street Police Station over the alleged use of pellet guns during the July 20 student protest at Jantar Mantar.

 

Gandhi was accompanied by 19-year-old Sahil Lochab, who allegedly suffered pellet injuries during the protest. The Congress leader demanded that an FIR be registered into the incident and said he would not leave until action was taken.

 

Gandhi claimed that a medical report showed more than 200 pellets lodged in Lochab’s body, including three in his eye, with some reportedly near his heart. He also questioned the Delhi Police’s denial that its personnel used pellet guns during the agitation.

 

The Delhi Police, however, did not register a fresh FIR, saying the complaint would be forwarded to the Crime Branch for investigation.

 

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Union Health Minister and BJP leader JP Nadda accused Gandhi of using the incident for political mileage, pointing out that the Supreme Court has already taken cognisance of the July 20 violence and appointed a five-member high-powered committee to investigate it.

 

Nadda questioned the need for Gandhi’s protest while the matter is already under judicial scrutiny, asking whether the Congress leader lacked faith in the judiciary.

 

He also alleged that Gandhi’s protest was aimed at diverting attention from criticism faced by the Congress over the ‘Vande Mataram’ controversy.

 

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad similarly accused Gandhi of indulging in the “politics of anarchy”. He said Gandhi was sitting in protest without prior permission even though an FIR had already been registered over the incident and the Supreme Court-appointed panel was investigating the matter.

 

The BJP maintained that the protest was politically motivated, while the Congress has framed Gandhi’s intervention as a demand for accountability and justice for the alleged victims of the July 20 violence.