The BJP on Thursday accused Rahul Gandhi of "inappropriately touching" a female constable and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of "punching" a cop during their street protest, and claimed that the action of the Congress leaders was not consistent with their slogan of "smash the patriarchy".
The Congress was also trying to create "Nepal- and Bangladesh-like anarchy" in the country through its street protests, as Rahul Gandhi is "desperate" to come to power, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari alleged.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, BJP spokesperson Sidharth Yadav accused Rahul and Priyanka of spreading "anarchy" in the national capital and alleged that they attacked police personnel during protests.
Yadav said the visuals being circulated were not of a protest but showed "the anarchy being spread in the national capital" under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress.
"There is no ordinary citizen, no member of the general public, participating in these protests," he alleged.
Yadav alleged that Rahul "inappropriately touched" a woman police constable and claimed that Priyanka "punched a female police officer in the stomach".
"The conduct of Rahul Gandhi in inappropriately touching a female constable is totally unacceptable," he said.
"Priyanka who punched a female police officer in the stomach even though she was simply standing there and had not provoked anyone. This is beyond tolerance," he said.
The BJP spokesperson also alleged that Congress workers kicked policemen after bringing them to the ground.
"Is this what the Congress's 'Mohabbat ki Dukan' is? The hateful merchandise being sold in this 'Mohabbat ki Dukan' is now out in the open before the country," Yadav said.
Referring to Rahul Gandhi's slogan "smash the patriarchy" and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's "Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon" slogans, Yadav questioned whether the alleged conduct of the Congress leaders was consistent with their stated positions.
"When she was hitting that female police officer, was this the slogan that was going through her mind?" he asked, referring to Priyanka.
Yadav said if that was not the case, "then the truth behind their slogans is now before the country".
"Rahul Gandhi has said that there are 47 FIRs against him. But wearing an FIR relating to an alleged crime against a woman as a medal - only Rahul Gandhi can do this in the country," he said.
BJP spokesperson Bhandari showed some video footage purportedly of INDIA bloc's protest on Wednesday and said that the way Rahul, his sister Priyanka and Congress workers manhandled the police personnel in Delhi makes the party's "intention" clear.
"The Congress party's strategy is to spread anarchy in India, like Nepal and Bangladesh," he said in a video message.
Overlaying a purported video of the Congress protest in his video message, Bhandari said, "Congress party workers are seen trying to assault police personnel with kicks and punches. The policeman is performing his duty there, but a Congress worker pushes him and then kicks him."
Showing another such video, he claimed police personnel were requesting Rahul Gandhi to hold a peaceful protest as "there is a crowd of thousands" accompanying him.
He also alleged that Rahul pushed a policeman hoping to create "resistance reels".
"In the third clip, Priyanka Vadra herself is seen attempting to push police personnel," Bhandari said.
On the Election Commission issue, Bhandari said the matter was already before the Supreme Court and claimed that the protests would have no bearing on the judicial proceedings.
"When the matter is before the Supreme Court, whether I protest on the streets, someone else does, or Rahul Gandhi does, it will not make any difference to the court," he said.
"Rahul Gandhi thinks that through such visuals, he can put pressure on the Supreme Court's decision and interfere in the judicial process," he said.
He also alleged that "global international forces" were working along with Rahul Gandhi to create unrest in India.
"India's democracy is alive, strong and secure, and there is peace in the country. Are some global forces, along with Rahul Gandhi, who is desperate to come to power, trying to bring the family back to power by burning the country and creating anarchy in it?" he said.
"The country is watching. Rahul Gandhi's intention is not democracy, but the family; not the country, instead it is to support the forces that are trying to burn the country," Bhandari said.
Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders held street protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar on Tuesday and Wednesday. They were detained on both days and later released.
On Thursday, too, INDIA bloc leaders are meeting for lunch at a restaurant, and it is likely that there could be a protest after that, sources said.
