Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A fresh slugfest has erupted between the BJP and the Congress after a pregnant journalist alleged that she was shoved and pushed by Rahul Gandhi during the opposition’s protest march to the Supreme Court on Monday. While the incident has given the BJP ammo to aim at Rahul and his ‘Smash Patriarchy’ slogan, the Congress has alleged several inconsistencies in the sequence of events.
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The incident happened as Rahul and top INDIA bloc leaders marched to the Supreme Court on Monday, escalating their campaign for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Later, Rahul personally filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the SIR exercise and sought its scrapping. Among those covering the dramatic scenes at the top court was journalist Richa Parashar.
JOURNALIST CLAIMS PUSHED BY RAHUL GANDHI
Parashar claimed that she was waiting at the gate through which Rahul was expected to exit the Supreme Court. “I was excited for his byte. I thought it was a big day for me,” she told ANI. Expectedly, a huge crowd had gathered at the court’s premises.
However, the journalist, who is three months pregnant, claimed Rahul grabbed her shoulder and pulled her as she attempted to record his remarks. She claimed she was then pushed by his security personnel. The cameraperson, who accompanied her, was also elbowed by Rahul and fell to the ground, Parashar alleged.
She claimed things unfolded within a few seconds. “Rahul Gandhi held my shoulder and pulled. I could feel his strength. His guards pushed me,” Parashar, who is admitted at Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said.
“I shouted and pleaded not to be pushed… I fell down the stairs. I said Rahul Gandhi pushed me. But his people kept chanting ‘Rahul Gandhi zindabad’ to drown out my voice,” she further said.
The journalist claimed she was taken to a local hospital after she complained of a slight pain in her stomach. She was later shifted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Parashar said her organisation was not aware of her pregnancy.
“Doctors told me to get an X-ray done as I had fallen down. It was then that I told a nurse about my pregnancy,” Parashar recounted.
“They are saying why did I enter the crowd if I am pregnant. I am a journalist too. That is my job,” she further said.
BJP CLAIMS SISTER APPROACHED FOR HELP
Several BJP leaders visited the journalist on Tuesday. Among them was Delhi BJP vice president Rajesh Bhatia, who claimed he was approached by the journalist’s sister for help after the incident.
“She explained that her sister, a journalist, had been pushed by Rahul Gandhi. She was pregnant, had sustained injuries, and required medical attention. She asked for our help,” Bhatia told ANI.
The BJP leader said he immediately informed the local MLA, Umang Bajaj, who rushed to the hospital.
“We ensured she received first aid. After consulting the doctor, we were informed that there were complications regarding her pregnancy and she needed to be admitted. Subsequently, she underwent an ultrasound and X-ray,” Bhatia said.
BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused Rahul of behaving like a “goon”, questioning his conduct despite calls to “smash the patriarchy”.
“She (Parashar) told us that Rahul Gandhi himself grabbed her by the shoulder, yanked her, and threw her to the ground. Not a single Congress worker offered a helping hand. Instead, they tried to cast aspersions on her,” Bhandari tweeted.
CONGRESS CLAIMS PROPAGANDA
The allegations have invited a sharp counter from the Congress.
Several Congress leaders shared videos of the chaos that unfolded when Rahul went to the Supreme Court. Visuals showed the LoP surrounded by several journalists and camerapersons. They pointed out that none of the visuals clearly show Rahul himself pushing the pregnant journalist.
Congress leader Alka Lamba claimed there were several mismatches in the sequence of events. Lamba said the journalist claimed the incident happened at 3-4 pm, but she went to the hospital nearly four hours later, at around 8.30 pm.
“Protest during pregnancy carries risk. Her sister reached the BJP MLA’s office to manufacture propaganda. She underwent an X-ray, which is usually not done during pregnancy,” Lamba tweeted.
She also called the BJP “shameless” for spreading such propaganda. “You BJP lackeys are the ones who need an X-ray and a post-mortem,” Lamba further said.
Rahul Gandhi, however, has not reacted to the claims yet. We will update the report as and when he responds.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
