BJP workers of the Women Wing protested against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his inappropriate behaviour towards a woman at its protest pride ramp outside Assam Congress headquarters Rajiv Bhawan in Guwahati on Saturday demanding him an apology.
The BJP women’s wing had organised a protest rally towards the Congress headquarters, where protestors shouted slogans denouncing the Congress and Gandhi. Police reportedly squandered a few protesters were able to break through the barricades and move into the area outside the building and several protestors were detained by the Assam Police.
A counter protest, led by Congress workers, was staged at the main entrance to Rajiv Bhawan. They shouted slogans against the BJP like ‘Vote Chor Go Back’. The rival groups called out slogans against each other and police personnel stepped in to avoid aggravation to a high degree.
Speaking at the Press Media, Assam Pradesh Mahila Morcha state general secretary Purabee Roy doubts that the Congress party was planning for any concrete action to promote women’s rights in the State. She singled out the party for criticism for inconsistency in its approach to allegations against public representatives.
Roy has also mentioned allegations of sexual harassment that have been made against a Manipur MP. She had said the MP had been suspended on October 9 the day after the matter had been taken up for further consideration, alleging close contacts with Rahul Gandhi on the part of the parliamentarian.
The BJP protesters urged the government to take action against this MP and demanded that the Congress stop politicizing women’s issues, without meeting women’s needs of safety and dignity.
It was the BJP protesters who presented the allegations against Gandhi and the claims on the MP. The account did not produce an answer from Rahul Gandhi or the Congress leaders to these charges.
The demonstration is a reminder of the ongoing political row between the BJP and the Congress in Assam, where both have engaged in conflicts through protest and statements. Police intervention was successful to put the situation under control at the time of the clash outside the Congress headquarters and later details on the detensions were not immediately available.