Rahul's 'not Hindus' dig at BJP draws protests, Modi says calling Hindus violent serious matter
New Delhi (PTI): Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the ruling BJP in the Lok Sabha on Monday, saying those who call themselves Hindus are engaged in "violence and hate" round the clock, drawing massive protests from the members of the treasury benches with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserting that calling the entire Hindu society violent is a serious matter.
Gandhi, however, retorted that he was speaking about the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) or Modi are not the entire Hindu society, he added.
The Congress leader also showed a picture of Lord Shiva and said his message is about fearlessness and non-violence. He also cited the teachings of other religions to make a similar point.
However, his dig at the BJP that it does not represent all Hindus and jab at the ruling party by citing the essence of different religions had the members of the treasury benches on their feet.
Home Minister Amit Shah sought Gandhi's apology to the House and the country for hurting the feelings of crores of people who take pride in identifying themselves as Hindus.
Shah spoke of the Emergency and 1984 anti-Sikhs riots to hit back at Gandhi, saying he has no right to talk about non-violence when the Congress had spread "terror" in the country.
Gandhi further emphasised that all religions talk about courage, citing Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism to underline the importance of fearlessness.
He accused the BJP of launching systematic attacks on the Constitution and the fundamental idea of India, noting that millions of people have resisted the ideas proposed by the ruling party.
"I was attacked on the orders of Prime Minister Modi. There were 20-plus cases (against me), (my) house was taken away, 55 hours of interrogation by the ED," Gandhi said.
Despite these challenges, he said he feels proud of the collective effort to protect the Constitution.
"It feels nice that BJP people are now repeating 'Jai Samvidhan' after me," he said.
Gandhi also expressed his contentment at being in the opposition.
"I am happy and proud to be in the opposition. For us, there is something more than power, it is the truth," he said.
During his first speech as the leader of opposition, Gandhi showed a picture of Lord Shiva, which prompted Speaker Om Birla to remind him that rules do not allow displaying placards in the House.
Gandhi reiterated that all religions, including Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism, emphasise courage and the importance of being fearless.
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Ghaziabad: Widow raped by neighbor, accused on the run
Ghaziabad: In a shocking incident in Ghaziabad's Tronica City police station area, a widow was brutally raped by a neighboring youth who had been hiding in her house since Monday evening. The accused, identified as Arun, fled the scene after committing the crime.
The victim's condition deteriorated due to heavy bleeding from her private parts, causing her to faint. Neighbors immediately called for an ambulance and admitted her to the hospital.
The widow, who lives with her three children in Tronica City, reported that Arun had been harassing her for a long time. On Monday night, during a power outage, the woman stood outside her house talking to neighboring women. Taking advantage of the darkness, Arun entered her house and hid.
After the power was restored, the woman and her children had dinner and went to sleep. Late at night, Arun allegedly caught hold of the woman and raped her forcibly. The assault was so brutal that she fainted from excessive bleeding. After the crime, Arun threatened her and fled.
The police were alerted via Dial-112 by neighbors.
The victim revealed that Arun had been harassing her for months, forcing her to talk on the phone and threatening her when she blocked his number. Despite her complaints, the police had not taken action against Arun. On Monday morning, the woman visited Tronica City police station, but officers allegedly dismissed her concerns, advising her to call them if Arun showed up again.
ACP Loni Suryabali Maurya stated that a case has been registered against Arun based on the woman's complaint. A team has been formed to arrest the accused. DCP Rural Vivek Yadav mentioned that the allegations of police negligence are being investigated, and action will be taken against the officers if they are found guilty.
Arun, who has a history of criminal behavior, including a prior conviction for raping a girl, is currently out on bail. The police are intensifying their efforts to locate and arrest him.
