Clashes sparked controversy; Amit Shah demanded Gandhi’s apology, accusing him of promoting hatred and offensive slogans
New Delhi
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday condemned the violence against Congress workers in Patna, asserting that “truth and non-violence prevail” and pledging to protect the Constitution. Gandhi’s statement came hours after clashes erupted outside the Congress state headquarters, Sadaqat Ashram, involving BJP and Congress workers.
The conflict reportedly began during the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Darbhanga on Wednesday, when a man named Rafiq allegedly shouted abusive remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother. BJP workers protested the incident, which occurred as Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav were arriving. Police said sticks and stones were used, leaving several workers from both sides injured. Rafiq has been arrested, and authorities are searching for others involved.
Gandhi posted on X: “Beat and break, as much as you want – we will continue to protect truth and the Constitution. Satyameva Jayate.” He emphasized that lies and violence cannot prevail against truth.
The clashes have sparked political controversy. Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanded an apology from Gandhi, accusing him of promoting a “politics of hatred” and facilitating offensive sloganeering. In a statement, Shah called the language used against the PM and his late mother “condemnable” and “a stain on our democracy.” He added that under Gandhi’s leadership, Congress politics had reached “its lowest level” and criticised the party’s inability to respect the PM’s role in guiding the country.