New Delhi: Congress Member of Parliament Priyanka Gandhi Vadra condemned the FIR filed against her brother, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, calling it a “symbol of government’s desperation.” She claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was resorting to diversion tactics due to its fear that the nation would not tolerate its “insult” of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution.
Priyanka Gandhi specifically referred to the comments made by Home Minister Amit Shah in the Rajya Sabha, which she deemed as an insult to Ambedkar. She stated, “The BJP is afraid of the Opposition which is raising this issue because it knows that its true feelings about Ambedkar are out in the open.”
She further emphasized the connection between the ongoing controversy and national interests, noting that the country will not tolerate any disrespect towards Ambedkar, as he played a pivotal role in shaping India’s Constitution. “Our Constitution has been provided by Dr. Ambedkar, the people of the country, and the freedom struggle, and the country will not tolerate his insult,” she added.
In response to the FIR filed against Rahul Gandhi following a confrontation on Parliament grounds, Priyanka Gandhi labeled the action as a desperate move by the government. “This is a symbol of the government’s desperation,” she said. She dismissed the FIR as “fictitious,” asserting that the BJP’s real aim was to avoid discussions on critical issues like the Adani controversy. Priyanka Gandhi pointed out that the government’s use of baseless FIRs was a deliberate attempt to sideline pressing topics and distract from the insult to Ambedkar.
The FIR against Rahul Gandhi was filed after BJP MPs accused him of physical assault and provocation during a scuffle on Parliament grounds. The charges against him include voluntary causing hurt, criminal intimidation, and endangering personal safety, among others. Rahul Gandhi has denied the allegations, stating that he did not push any senior member of the BJP.
The incident, which resulted in injuries to BJP MPs Mukesh Rajput and Pratap Chandra Sarangi, occurred amid separate marches by government and opposition members protesting Shah’s remarks about Ambedkar. The Opposition has demanded Shah’s resignation, claiming his comments were an affront to the man who drafted India’s Constitution.
