Journalist Alleges Assault by Rahul Gandhi During Supreme Court Protest; Congress Denies Claims
New Delhi: A major controversy has erupted in the national capital following allegations by a journalist that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi physically assaulted her during an opposition protest outside the Supreme Court premises. Richa Parashar, a reporter for the digital news outlet OneIndia, has been admitted to a local hospital after claiming that the Leader of the Opposition grabbed and yanked her hand during a chaotic demonstration held by the INDIA bloc.
The protest, which sought the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, saw high tensions as opposition workers gathered near the Supreme Court gates. Parashar, who is currently three months pregnant, claims the incident occurred when she attempted to secure a comment from Gandhi.
The Allegations
Speaking from her hospital bed while surrounded by visiting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, Parashar recounted a distressing sequence of events. She alleged that as she extended her microphone toward the Congress leader, he displayed visible irritation.
“Rahul Gandhi grabbed my hand and yanked it with such force that I lost my balance,” she stated. The journalist further alleged that the aggressive movement, compounded by a subsequent shove from security personnel, caused her to fall face-first onto the steps of the court entrance, resulting in her knees and stomach striking the ground. She also claimed her cameraman was pushed during the altercation, causing him to fall on top of her, leading to the destruction of her equipment.
Political Backlash and Denials
The incident has triggered a sharp political war of words. The Congress party has vehemently rejected the accusations, dismissing them as a “manufactured” narrative orchestrated by the BJP to malign their leader.
Congress leader Alka Lamba took to social media to call out inconsistencies in the journalist’s account. Lamba questioned the timeline, noting a significant gap between the alleged incident in the afternoon and the time of the journalist’s hospital admission. She further raised doubts regarding the medical procedures performed, pointing out that an X-ray is typically avoided during pregnancy. “This is propaganda by the BJP,” Lamba wrote, challenging the veracity of the claims.
BJP spokespersons have rallied behind Parashar, condemning Gandhi’s alleged conduct. Pradeep Bhandari, who visited the journalist in the hospital, described the Congress leader’s actions as those of a “goon.” Bhandari criticized the Congress party for its perceived silence and failure to assist a woman in distress, arguing that the incident contradicts the party’s claims of upholding democratic values and respecting women.
Ongoing Tensions
As the political blame game intensifies, the national capital remains under heavy security. The INDIA bloc has expanded its protest strategy, evolving the demonstration into a broader movement against the government. While the opposition frames the protest as a necessary democratic stand against intimidation, the clash involving the journalist has added a volatile layer to the ongoing political standoff.
At present, both sides remain entrenched in their positions, with the Congress insisting that video evidence fails to substantiate the assault claims, while the journalist maintains her stance that her fall was the direct result of Gandhi’s physical interference.
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