On Monday, the Congress workers allegedly thrashed and chased away protesters at Salon in Amethi during the Indian National Congress (INC) President Rahul Gandhi’s visit. Rahul Gandhi was visiting his Lok Sabha Constituency in Amethi. This is his first visit since becoming the President of INC.
The protesters demanded answers about the promises Rahul made earlier to the people of Amethi. The promises made by Rahul includes a railway line from Unchahar in Rae Bareli to Guriganj in Amethi and the restoration of the Vespa factory. The INC workers accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of being behind the protest.
A few eyewitnesses stated seconds before Rahul’s convoy arrived, a few people requested the protesters to cease their protest. The protesters refused to do so leading to a few people chasing them away with lathis. It is said the lathi charge happened in the presence of the policemen. Before the police intervened, many protesters were thrashed.
It is said the policemen took control of the situation and Rahul’s convoy crossed the spot without stopping. Later that day, a few protesters filed a complaint at the Salon Police Station against the INC workers and Leaders.
A member of the INC Akhilesh Pratap Singh said, “It was not a protest by the people but a show of frustration of a senior office bearer of a party, whose representative was camping in Amethi for the last few days just to plan such things. They had the support of the Government. They were chased away by Rahul Gandhi’s family (the people of Amethi.)”
The BJP Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Dal Bahadur Kori hit back saying, “The BJP had nothing to do with the protest. In a democracy, the people always ask their leaders questions and here they wanted to ask their Member of Parliament (MP) about things done in the last 15 years. The people question me as well, but we do not chase away or beat them up.” Later that day, Kori visited the Salon Police Station along with the protesters and sought action against the INC Leaders.
Kori said, “I was at a function when some people called me to say that they were being beaten up, they asked me to save them as I was their MLA.” Kori further added, “Everyone saw the Congress leaders involved in the incident. I would ask them to identify BJP leaders. They would not be able to do so, as there were none.” He further alleged the INC Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Deepak Singh was also a part of the group that thrashed the protesters.
Today, Rahul is scheduled to hold a roadshow and a padayatra (journey by foot) from Musafirkhana. This is said to be an effort to reach out to the people of his constituency. Rahul will next move to Gauriganj, Jagdishpur and Mohanganj before heading back to Lucknow. Prior to Rahul’s visit to Amethi, the INC leaders in Lucknow and Amethi held a one day meeting to prepare for the event.
Akhilesh said, “It is going to be a festival for Amethi, as he is not only their MP but the upcoming Prime Minister as well. There is a tradition that once a Congress President is elected from Amethi, Congress gets a Government at the Centre. This is an indication for us that in 2019, Rahul Gandhi will lead us to form a Government at the Centre.”
To welcome Rahul, a poster was put up by the INC workers which led to chaos in Amethi. In the poster, Rahul can be seen pointing a bow and an arrow towards Prime Minister Modi. The inscription in the poster stated Rahul is an incarnation of Ram who will bring Ram Rajya in 2019 by defeating Modi who is portrayed as Ravan.
