Rahul Gandhi accuses BJP of controlling EC, CBI, ED, claims Constitution 'under attack'
Ranchi, Oct 19: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday claimed that the Constitution is "under attack" by the BJP as he accused the saffron party of controlling institutions such as the Election Commission, bureaucracy and central agencies.
He also said no force can stop the caste census and removal of the 50 per cent cap on the reservation.
"The Constitution is under constant attack from all sides, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, and it needs to be protected," Gandhi alleged while addressing 'Samvidhan Samman Sammelan' in Ranchi ahead of the Jharkhand Assembly polls.
In a no-hold-bar attack, he accused the BJP of "controlling the Election Commission, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), income tax department, bureaucracy and judiciary".
"The BJP also controls funds and institutions but we possess honesty. The Congress fought the Lok Sabha elections without money," he claimed.
Gandhi said the caste census is a "medium for getting social X-ray but PM Modi is opposed to this".
"However, no force can stop caste census, institutional survey and removal of 50 per cent cap on reservation despite no media, judiciary support," he said.
This was Gandhi’s first visit to Jharkhand after the assembly poll schedule was announced.
The assembly polls will be held in two phases on November 13 and 20 and counting will take place on November 23.
Earlier in the day, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said that the INDIA bloc will contest the upcoming assembly polls together and the Congress and the JMM will field candidates in 70 of 81 seats.
Seat-sharing talks are on with alliance partners - the RJD and the Left parties - for the remaining 11 seats, he added.
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Dalit man assaulted for drinking water from handpump near temple in UP, 7 booked
Bhadohi (UP), Oct 19: A Dalit man was allegedly beaten by seven people for drinking water from a handpump near a temple, police said on Saturday.
The victim was identified as Abhishek Gautam (24), police said.
The incident occurred on July 26. As per the police complaint, the assailants used casteist slurs and physically assaulted Gautam, pressing his neck with their feet "until his tongue protruded". They also threatened to harm him and his family if he reported the incident to the police, Superintendent of Police Meenakshi Katyayan said.
Gautam, a BA student and kabaddi player, had been targeted by the group for frequenting the public ground near the temple. They had previously warned him against using the hand pump or sitting on the temple, as per the complaint.
Despite filing a complaint with the police, Gautam alleged that no action was taken. He subsequently filed a petition in a special court here, seeking justice.
The court on Thursday ordered the registration of a case against the seven accused under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The accused are currently absconding.
"As per the directions of the court, the FIR was registered on October 17 itself. The investigation of the case has been assigned to Circle Officer Prabhat Rai," said the SP.
