Hubballi (Karnataka) [India], August 23 (ANI): Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has accused Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi of staging a "drama" at a Parliament Street police station as he demanded an FIR into the alleged pellet-gun injury suffered by student protester Sahil Lochab.
Joshi alleged that the episode was an attempt to divert attention from the criticism Congress is facing over its resolution to sing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram.
Questioning the timing behind Rahul Gandhi's visit to a police station, he told reporters on Saturday, "When the Supreme Court constitutes a committee, every action, every commission and omission, there will be an enquiry. In this case, the Supreme Court has constituted a commitee. Why did he (Rahul Gandhi) go yesterday? Parliament was adjourned sine die on the morning of August 13. He went on August 20. Was he sleeping? He only did this because his party is facing backlash over the Vande Mataram resolution. The public is angry. Just to deflect this criticism, he staged this drama."
He also questioned the party's commitment towards constitutional principles, as the Congress Working Committee has decided that only the first two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' would be sung at party events, citing its 1937 resolution.
Joshi said, "The Congress party has never given any respect to the constitution... All these things that they have done are unconstitutional activities."
The FIR was registered by Delhi Police on Friday in connection with the pellet gun injury case under Sections 118 and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), following Rahul Gandhi's sit-in protest at Parliament Street police station demanding action on Lochav's complaint.
The victim had alleged that his complaint was not being registered despite suffering injuries after pellet gun firing at Connaught Place on July 20. He claimed that he underwent surgery at AIIMS, but his vision remained affected.
Rahul Gandhi, who was accompanied by several Congress leaders including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, had questioned the delay in filing the FIR and said the AIIMS report showed more than 200 shells inside Lochav's body and three shells in his eye. (ANI)
Rahul Gandhi did 'drama' at Police Station to deflect Vande Mataram backlash: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi
