Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 7: The BJP on Wednesday alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tried to push a woman police officer during an INDIA bloc protest in Delhi, after police personnel attempted to remove a woman protester from a sit-in on Ashoka Road. There was no immediate reaction from the Congress to the allegation.

The protest was organised over allegations of "vote chori" and to demand the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, a day after opposition MPs staged an eight-hour dharna seeking a meeting with the Election Commissioners.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari shared a video clip of the incident on X and alleged that Gandhi attempted to push a female police personnel. BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia also alleged that Gandhi deliberately touched the woman officer and sought an apology from the Congress leader.

The BJP's allegations came amid a confrontation between opposition MPs and police as the leaders attempted to reach Jantar Mantar. According to reports, Gandhi was standing near his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was lying on the road along with other women protesters when police personnel moved in to detain them. The BJP claimed that Gandhi pushed one of the women officers while attempting to prevent them from taking away the protesters.

The opposition MPs had planned to hold their protest at Jantar Mantar after a solidarity lunch hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Following the lunch, the MPs boarded buses and travelled from Janpath towards the protest site, with some leaders climbing onto the roofs of the buses while carrying the Tricolour.

The buses were stopped by security personnel on Ashoka Road, following which Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and several other INDIA bloc leaders joined the protest on the road. The situation later escalated, with Gandhi and other opposition leaders being detained by police. Reuters and other reports confirmed that Gandhi and several lawmakers were detained during the protest.

MPs from the Congress, TMC, CPI(M), CPI, RJD, IUML and several other parties participated in the protest, while Samajwadi Party MPs were not present.

The latest allegation adds to the confrontation between the BJP and Congress amid continuing opposition protests over the Election Commission and the revision of electoral rolls.