New Delhi: The Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Mahila Morcha staged a protest near the Congress headquarters on the Deendayal Upadhyaya (DDU) Marg on Thursday, accusing Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of misbehaving with a woman police officer during INDIA bloc demonstration in the national capital.
Carrying BJP flags, banners and placards, the women protesters raised slogans against Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and demanded a public apology.
The protesters said the issue was not merely political but concerned the dignity of women and respect for police personnel.
Tensions rose when BJP Mahila Morcha workers allegedly broke the route designated by the police and began marching towards Indira Bhawan.
Police personnel were deployed to prevent the protesters from moving further, while some demonstrators sat on the road as part of their protest.
The controversy results from clashes during INDIA bloc protests in Delhi on October 6 and 7 against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Opposition MPs and leaders were demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and raising objections to the SIR of electoral rolls.
During the October 7 protest, police erected barricades to stop demonstrators from moving ahead.
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among the opposition leaders detained by the police, along with around 90–91 other leaders and MPs.
Videos from the confrontation subsequently circulated on social media.
The BJP alleged that one video showed Rahul Gandhi pushing and touching a woman police officer in an inappropriate manner while attempting to cross the barricades.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also shared the footage on social media, making similar allegations.
The BJP also accused Priyanka Gandhi of elbowing and punching a woman police officer and alleged that some Congress workers assaulted police personnel during the confrontation.
The allegations have been strongly rejected by Congress.
The BJP said that Rahul Gandhi was attempting to protect women Congress workers from police action and alleges that Delhi Police used force against protesters.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and others in connection with the protest, invoking provisions related to obstructing government officials and allegedly assaulting police personnel.
Police are examining mobile-phone recordings and other video footage as part of the investigation.
(IANS)
