New Delhi, Aug 31 (IANS) A day after the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi was booked in a case in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) upped the ante accusing the Congress leader of pursuing divisive politics and spreading hatred. Congress party hit back, saying that the move was a witch hunt and aimed at weakening his efforts to protect Dalits and the Constitution.
Reacting to the FIR, Bihar Minister and BJP leader Ram Kripal Yadav said that Rahul Gandhi was “worried” about his political future and was attempting to turn the matter into a political issue.
“Rahul Gandhi ji is a little worried these days. He is unable to see his future and is in the dark. So, in search of his future, he keeps doing something or the other,” Yadav said.
Referring to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s recent visit to Haldwani, Yadav questioned the need to discuss the issue there and said Rahul Gandhi was trying to politicise the matter.
BJP leader Narottam Mishra also launched a direct attack on the Congress leader. Speaking in Bhopal, Mishra said: “It is his job to divide castes. It is his job to spread hatred. He has no other job.”
In Mumbai, Shiv Sena spokesperson Shaina NC rejected the suggestion that the FIR was a matter of political vendetta and said Rahul Gandhi should be aware of laws protecting members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
“The FIR is not a matter of political vendetta. If there is somebody from the Dalit community who has filed a complaint, then the court has taken cognizance of it,” she said.
“There are many laws in the country, and Rahul Gandhi should know about the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,” Shaina NC added, while noting that complaints involving alleged misuse of the law or grievances over issues such as untouchability and statements made by individuals should be dealt with under the legal framework.
Congress, meanwhile, accused the BJP of getting anxious and apprehensive over Rahul raising the pitch on BJP’s ‘divisive’ politics.
Punjab Congress Vice President Rajkumar Verka, speaking in Amritsar, said: “I feel that the BJP is anxious, and Rahul Gandhi, who is protecting Dalits… He is trying to protect the Constitution of the country.”
Verka termed the FIR an “insult to Dalits” and the Constitution, adding, “We will not tolerate any interference with the Constitution.”
An FIR has been registered against Rahul Gandhi at Haldwani City Kotwali in Uttarakhand. The case was registered on August 30, following a complaint by Amit Kumar, a resident of Jawahar Nagar Colony and a member of the Scheduled Caste community.
–IANS
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