File photo: BJP MP Sambit Patra addresses a press conference in New Delhi
NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday hit back at Congress leader and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his allegations of police excesses during the July 20 ‘Sansad Chalo’ student protest, accusing him of spreading a “false narrative” and using students for political purposes.Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra rejected the Congress MP’s claim that security forces fired on protesters, reiterating the party’s stand that “no bullets were fired” during the demonstration.”A short while ago, Rahul Gandhi addressed a press conference along with some of the young people who participated in the protest in Delhi on the 20th. I want to make one thing very clear. What I am saying today is meant for Rahul Gandhi, not for those young people. They are our children, they belong to the nation and they are the country’s future,” Patra said. “We had clearly stated earlier that no firing took place during the ‘Sansad Chalo’ protest in Delhi on the 20th. I am repeating it today with the same sense of responsibility because this is a sensitive issue. We do not want misinformation to spread or falsehoods to be accepted as facts. Therefore, I want to state once again, calmly and clearly, that no bullets were fired during the ‘Sansad Chalo’ protest in Delhi on the 20th,” he added.
BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of pushing ‘false narrative’
Patra alleged that Rahul was attempting to use students to advance a political narrative and said the BJP’s criticism was directed only at the Congress leader.”One should never attempt to play politics by using innocent children, resting a gun on their shoulders, as Rahul Gandhi is doing. Children are the future of our country; they are not at fault,” he said.”We want to expose the false narrative and the ‘bunch of lies’ that Rahul Gandhi is trying to propagate. The country’s children should remain fearless,” he added. Responding to allegations raised by some student protesters during the former Congress President’s press conference, Patra said students should not be divided on religious lines.”I also heard Muskan say today, ‘I am Muskan Sharma.’ Muskan, whether you are Muskan Sharma or Muskan Khan, you are a daughter of this country. Whether your surname is Sharma or Khan, you belong to India. This country progresses through the spirit of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Vikas’. Rahul Gandhi’s attempt to push a divisive agenda is completely wrong,” he said.
BJP questions Rahul Gandhi’s silence on Jharkhand students
The BJP spokesperson also accused Rae Bareli MP of adopting a selective approach by focusing only on one set of protesting students while ignoring others.”The children of Jharkhand are children too. They, too, are protesting. Rahul Gandhi should interact with some of the children from Jharkhand as well. He should understand their pain and suffering. Why isn’t he visiting Jharkhand?” Patra asked. He also rejected Rahul’s allegation that Union home minister Amit Shah was avoiding Parliament over the issue.”Rahul Gandhi’s statement that Amit Shah is not coming to the House… Rahul ji, are you even allowing the House to function? Such an uproar is created by Rahul Gandhi and his MPs that the House has to be adjourned within two minutes. The minister in charge of the department under discussion always attends. When the Home Minister’s department is discussed, he will certainly be present,” Patra said.He further accused the Congress leader of disrupting Parliament while simultaneously alleging that ministers were not responding. “The House begins its proceedings at 11 am, but Rahul Gandhi and his MPs create such a ruckus that it has to be adjourned within minutes. When the House reconvenes, they again reach the Speaker’s desk, raise slogans and wave placards so they can be seen on television. In such a situation, how can they expect Parliament to function?” he said.
What Rahul Gandhi had alleged
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi met student protesters who had participated in demonstrations against alleged irregularities in the NEET examinations and accused the Centre of trying to suppress democratic dissent.He said that a 15-year-old girl had been forced to apologise and claimed students were assaulted during the July 20 protest.Targeting Union home minister Amit Shah, Rahul alleged that Shah was responsible for the alleged violence against protesters.
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“The person who is responsible for this violence… is Amit Shah. He does not have the decency to come to Parliament. Either he did not know that this violence was being carried out on the children, in which case he is incompetent, or he ordered the shooting of the pellet gun and the violence on these children. It means he is culpable. Either way, he is responsible,” Rahul had said.Several students who appeared alongside Congress leader also alleged police brutality, including claims of pellet injuries, baton charges and harassment during the July 20 protest.The BJP has denied those allegations and maintained that no firing took place during the demonstration. Go to Source
