BJP leaders on Tuesday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of manhandling a woman journalist covering a protest on October 12, alleging that she was injured and hospitalised following the incident. Meanwhile, Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) activist Saurav Das and several others were detained by Delhi Police after entering Jantar Mantar to protest restrictions on the designated demonstration site.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari alleged that Gandhi shoved the journalist with his elbow and grabbed her, causing her to fall. He said the journalist told him that Gandhi had grabbed her by the shoulder and thrown her to the ground.
“You all saw the video showing how Rahul Gandhi shoved a female journalist, using his elbow and grabbing her, causing her to fall,” Bhandari told reporters, adding that the journalist was hospitalised following the incident.
Bhandari accused Congress workers of failing to assist the journalist and alleged that they instead attempted to cast aspersions on her. He also criticised Gandhi's public statements on women's rights, accusing him of behaving contrary to his rhetoric about “smashing the patriarchy”.
BJP Delhi State Vice President Rajesh Bhatia said the journalist's sister had approached him for help, alleging that her pregnant sister had been pushed and injured. Bhatia said he contacted BJP MLA Umang Bajaj and local leader Prateek Sharma, who accompanied him to the hospital, where the journalist had arrived with her husband.
Bajaj condemned the alleged incident, saying public representatives should answer journalists' questions rather than resort to physical aggression. He also urged young people to judge political leaders by their actions rather than their statements.
Bhandari further criticised the Congress leadership over its response to allegations of sexual harassment involving Congress MP Bimole Akoijam, claiming Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had remained silent on the matter. He also invoked Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's slogan, “Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon”, urging women to take note of the alleged incident.
The allegations against Gandhi were made by BJP leaders. The account provided does not include a response from Gandhi or the Congress to the claims.
