One Person Arrested for Attack on Car, Rahul Blames BJP

Rahul Gandhi tweeted saying that Narendra Modi’s black flags cannot silence the Congress.

One of the cars from Rahul Gandhi’s envoy after it was attacked.

(Photo: The Quint)

One person was arrested for allegedly throwing a stone on the car of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi in Banaskantha district's Dhanera town on Saturday, when he was on a visit to the flood-hit areas of Gujarat.

Banaskantha Superintendent of Police Niraj Badgujar identified the accused as Jayesh Darji alias Anil Rathod.

Congress leaders claimed that he was a local office bearer of the BJP’s youth outfit. “We have arrested one person named Jayesh Darji alias Anil Rathod for allegedly throwing a stone at the vehicle in which Gandhi was travelling,” Badgujar told PTI.

"We arrested Darji after his name was given by Congress members during the course of investigation," Badgujar said.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi blamed the BJP for the attack on his convoy as he left Lal Chowk in flood-hit Dhanera, Gujarat.

<i>Kal ki ghatna mein itna bada patthar BJP ke worker ne meri taraf maara, mere PSO ko laga. Modi ji aur BJP-RSS ka rajneeti ka tareeka hai, kya keh sakte hain? Jo apne aap kaam karta hai, wo condemn kaise karega? </i>(A BJP worker threw a rock towards me, my PSO was hurt in the attack. This is a political technique by Modi ji and the BJP-RSS. Why will Modi ji condemn this?)

Terming the attack “disgusting and disgraceful”, Congress claimed the violence was perpetrated by BJP goons.

Rahul Gandhi was shown black flags and a man threw a stone at his car, breaking its rear glass, when he on his way from Lal Chowk to the helipad in Dhanera. Gandhi, however, escaped unhurt.

One of the vandalised party cars.

Earlier, Rahul was heckled by protesters at an event.

While Congress Spokesperson Abhishek Mannu Singhvi called for “unanimous condemnation” of the attack by all parties, party leader Randeep Surjewala said, “With 218 deaths in Gujarat, 61 in Bansakanta alone, PM only does an aerial visit while the CM takes five days to visit. BJP only attacks opposition. BJP must know truth can’t be silenced.”

Gujarat CM Orders Probe

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani condemned the attack on Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s convoy and has launched a probe into the same. Rupani tweeted that the government has appointed an additional DG rank office to investigate the matter.

He asserted that strict action will be taken against those found guilty.

Violence and physical attack have become BJP’s culture. Congress and Rahul <i>ji</i> get more determined to raise people’s voice after every attack. Violence is the first refuge of cowards. Godse culture thrives under BJP.

Randeep Surjewala

The cement brick thrown at party car.

Surjewala called the incident an “an organised attack by goons”, along with using the hashtag #DarpokBJP on Twitter.

One of the vandalised party cars.

Abhishek Singhvi confirmed that one person was injured in the attack by “antisocial elements”.

Congress Needs to Stop Politicising Everything: BJP

Responding to Congress’ allegations, BJP Spokesperson Sambit Patra said that the former should stop politicising every incident and respect the emotions of the “people who are suffering under floods, who are tired of Rahul Gandhi’s politics.”

It’s a sorry state of affairs that they read politics into every issue. We should not draw in raw politics like Rahul Gandhi and Congress. If you want to raise the issue, raise that of the (flood) relief. They don’t have legislators in Gujarat, that’s why they don’t know of the relief work going on over there.

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel later added:

Like every visiting leader Rahul Gandhi was offered a bullet-proof car by state government, but he chose to travel by normal vehicle.

Youth Wing Demands Dismissal of Gujarat Govt

The Delhi unit of the Congress "condemned" the attack on Gandhi, saying it will hold a protest outside the Guajrat Bhawan in New Delhi on Saturday over the issue.

The Youth Congress staged a protest near the BJP headquarters New Delhi, demanding "dismissal" of the Gujarat government over the alleged attack.

The protesters took out a torch procession from the Indian Youth Congress office to the Ashoka Road and were stopped close to the BJP headquarters by the police.

Gujarat government has no right to remain in power if it can not protect a leader like Rahul Gandhi. The Centre should dismiss it

Amarinder Singh Raja, Youth Congress president

Raja further added:

The Prime Minister and the Home Minister should apologise for failing to protect Rahul Gandhi who is a prominent Opposition leader and whose father and grand mother were killed at the hands of terrorists.

Narendra Modi’s Black Flags, Stones Won’t Daunt Us: Rahul

Responding after the attack, Rahul Gandhi said:

“Narendra Modi’s slogans, black flags and stones won’t discourage us. We will do everything we can to help people.”

Manmohan Singh Strongly Condemned the Act

Condemning the attack on Gandhi’s convoy, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said:

Political violence has no place in a functioning democracy.

Former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot also commented, saying that the BJP cannot silence the truth by violence.

Other Congressmen Also Condemn the Attack

This is being deliberately done by the BJP to create an atmosphere of fear in Gujarat just before the Assembly elections. It is yet another example of intolerance exhibited by BJP and its workers openly.

Ghulam Nabi Azad

(With inputs from PTI.)

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