Right before Congress President Rahul Gandhi arrived at Raj Ghat to observe a day long fast against the rise of communal violence in India, party leaders and the two 1984 anti-Sikh riot accused – Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar – were allegedly asked to leave the venue.
According to ANI, Tytler left the stage and joined the public, while Kumar left the venue altogether.
Tytler and Kumar have been accused of instigating the 1984 anti-Sikh riots following the assassination of then-prime minister Indira Gandhi.
BJP, Twitterati React
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reacted strongly to the presence of Tytler and Kumar at the rally, with Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal calling it a joke.
Many regular Twitter users too took jibes at Congress:
Congress Leaders Photographed Eating Before Fast
A Delhi BJP leader Harish Khurana claimed that Congress leaders were earlier on Monday seen eating at restaurant in the city before sitting on a protest and observing fast at Rajghat.
The leader took to Twitter to post a photo of the same.
This picture (of Congress leaders eating before fast) reveals double-standard of Congress. On one hand they are claiming to observe fast, on the other hand they are seen having food at a restaurant. The picture is authentic. Let them deny it.Harish Khurana, BJP Leader
Congress leader AS Lovely hit back at the BJP, saying that the photograph was from before 8 am and that the symbolic fast was from 10:30 am.
The photograph is from before 8 am. This is symbolic fast from 10.30 am to 4.30pm, it is not indefinite hunger strike. This is what is wrong with these(BJP) people, instead of properly running the country, they concentrate on what we are eating.AS Lovely, Congress Leader
Gandhi’s Protest at Raj Ghat
Gandhi is set to lead the protest at the Raj Ghat as part of a nationwide "fast" of the party to protest against the Narendra Modi government’s complicity in rising violence against minorities.
Congress workers will hold a day-long fast at all state and district headquarters to protest against the BJP government and to promote communal harmony and peace across the country.
Communal harmony and brotherhood is under threat in the Narendra Modi government. They want to divide the society, hence it is the duty of the Congress party to fight against such powers and this is what we have come together for.Randeep Surjewala, Spokesperson, Congress
Gandhi will sit with Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken and party workers to protest against the government and its failure to hold discussion in Parliament on key issues such as the CBSE paper leak, the multi-crore PNB scam, Cauvery issue and Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh.
The Congress will also take up issues related to alleged dilution of the SC/ST Act, farm distress and disillusionment among the youth.
(With inputs from PTI, ANI and TOI)
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