‘Harassment’, cries Congress as police lands at at Rahul Gandhi’s door
Police personnel outside the residence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in connection with a notice issued to him over his remarks during ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, in New Delhi. (Photo/Shahbaz Khan)
New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday lashed out at the Centre over “sending police to Rahul Gandhi’s residence”. A Delhi police team led by a special commissioner arrived at Mr Gandhi’s home in connection with a notice issued to him over his “women are still being sexually assaulted” remark during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The police detained several Congress workers who gathered at the former party president’s house to protest against the police presence.
Top Congress leaders, including Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Rajya Sabha MPs Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Jairam Ramesh, had also reached Mr Gandhi’s residence.
Taking cognisance of his social media posts, the Delhi police sent a questionnaire to Mr Gandhi, which he did not answer. Speaking to the media, special commissioner of police Sagarpreet Hooda said they conducted a local inquiry to collect details if any woman had approached Mr Gandhi during the Yatra’s Delhi leg about their ordeal, but no such incident came to the notice of their officials. Also, they could not find any victims.
He added: “We tried to contact Mr Gandhi, but he was abroad then. So, today, I, along with my team, went to his residence and communicated with his staff about the same. After we get details, we want to ensure that legal action is taken in the matter at the earliest and there is no loss of evidence and no victim should be further victimised or abused.”
The police team arrived at the Tughlaq Lane residence of Mr Gandhi at about 10 am and was able to meet him around noon, and left the place at 1 pm.
Mr Gandhi gave the 10-point reply hours after a Delhi police team knocked on his door for the third time in five days. He also sought 10 days to give a detailed response to the questions posed by the Delhi police over his January 30 remarks.
It is reliably learnt that no information in the reply of Mr Gandhi can take the investigation forward.
Addressing a joint press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Mr Gehlot, Mr Ramesh and Mr Singhvi said the move was a clear case of “vendetta, intimidation and harassment” in order to create an atmosphere against the former Congress chief.
Hitting out at the Delhi police action, Mr Singhvi said the statements in question were made by Mr Gandhi in Srinagar on January 30. It does not fall under the Delhi police’s jurisdiction. He also wondered why the city police force was showing such alacrity in making frequent visits to Mr Gandhi’s residence after 45 days of the remarks made by him.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also hit out at the Centre and said, “To divert from the Adani issue, they (the BJP) are asking all these questions by sending the police. Mr Gandhi and Congress will not get scared. No matter how much they try to save Adani, we will continue to question them.”
Mr Gandhi also termed the police action “unprecedented” and asked whether this had anything to do with his position taken both inside and outside Parliament on the Adani issue. He also asked whether any other political party, including the ruling party, has been subjected to such kind of scrutiny or questioning over their political campaigns.
The former Congress president questioned the urgency shown by the Delhi police in making two visits in as many days after an initial gap of 45 days after he made his speech in Srinagar.
Hitting back, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra noted that Mr Gandhi had spoken during his Bharat Jodo Yatra about women meeting him and telling him about being sexually assaulted. The police needs to investigate such incidents. That is why the Delhi police followed the legal procedure and sought to meet the Congress leader for details, he said.
Mr Patra further added: “Mr Gandhi had claimed that he met women who told him that they were raped and molested but didn’t get justice. The Delhi police has been asking for details, but Mr Gandhi wouldn’t give any. Assuming he didn’t lie then, it shows his feeble commitment towards ensuring justice.”
