Congress, BJP face off in Vijayawada over Rahul Gandhi’s detention

Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh): Congress workers protesting the detention of their leader Rahul Gandhi during his dharna in front of the prime minister’s residence and BJP workers who participated in the rival protest organised in the city on Wednesday clashed with each other, triggering tension.

Both parties accused each other of violence and provocation.

Congress protest was organised to condemn the detention of senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a dharna near Prime Minister’s residence in New Delhi over the NEET question paper leak and police brutality against participants of a march towards Parliament demanding education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the NEET issue.

The APCC also announced a march from Andhra Ratna Bhavan to Lok Bhavan in Vijayawada later in the day to protest the detention of Gandhi and submit a memorandum to Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer.

The BJP, in turn, organised a counter-protest condemning the Congress demonstration near the prime minister’s residence and defending the Centre’s handling of the issue.

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee protested Gandhi’s arrest in Delhi and attacks on protesting students and youth during their march towards Parliament, under APCC chief YS Sharmila Reddy’s directions.

At Kadiri in Sri Satya Sai district, Congress staged a road blockade.

District President KS Shanawaz alleged repeated paper leaks, police excesses against protesting youth and demanded Modi’s resignation.

Shanawaz claimed about 152 paper leaks occurred during BJP rule, alleging NEET and UPSC leaks devastated students’ futures and forced some to die by suicide.

He alleged police lathi-charged protesting youths at Jantar Mantar, blamed Central government negligence, and urged nationwide protests until Prime Minister Modi resigns.

APCC Vice-President Kolanukonda Shivaji alleged that police, instead of restraining BJP workers, resorted to a lathi charge on Congress leaders and workers during the counter protests in the city.

He claimed Andhra Pradesh Youth Congress President Pawan Teja suffered a leg fracture, while Youth Congress leader Racharla Suryaprakash and NSUI leader Gopi also sustained injuries.

Shivaji said Gandhi had been raising issues concerning NEET and examination paper leaks, while accusing the Centre of suppressing peaceful protests by Congress leaders and students.

He also condemned the behaviour of police towards Priyanka Gandhi in New Delhi and demanded action against those allegedly involved in the attack on the Congress office.

The APCC leader said the party would submit a complaint to the Andhra Pradesh police, urging the police to act impartially and uphold the rule of law.

Meanwhile, BJP workers assembled at Vijaya Talkies Centre under state president PVN Madhav, raising slogans against Gandhi before the situation turned tense.

Addressing BJP workers during the Vijayawada rally, Madhav alleged that the protests in Delhi over the NEET examination had escalated into an attack on the country’s sovereignty.

He alleged that the Congress was directly and indirectly backing anti-national forces and claimed that the protests led by Sonam Wangchuk in Delhi had been infiltrated by “urban Naxals” and anti-national elements.

Madhav further alleged that the Congress and Communist parties were supporting those who opposed the abrogation of Article 370, questioned the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and raised slogans calling for the country’s breakup.

He said the alleged attempt to attack Prime Minister Modi’s residence amounted to an attack on the nation and said the BJP had organised protests outside Congress offices across the country in response.

Madhav asserted that anti-national activities would not be tolerated and that strict action would be taken under the law, adding that the BJP would continue its fight to protect national unity and democracy.

He said the examinations had since been completed, rank cards issued and the counselling process was under way, accusing Gandhi of seeking political mileage by aligning with anti-national forces.

Madhav criticised Gandhi, defended the Centre’s handling of the NEET paper leak and said those involved had already been arrested.

He also said threatening Parliament amounted to attacking the nation, while asserting the BJP sympathised with genuine NEET victims and would confront “evil forces”.

Alleging that BJP workers holding a peaceful rally in Vijayawada were attacked with eggs and sticks by Congress workers, Madhav described it as an example of the Congress’ “violent politics”.

Police remained deployed to maintain law and order as rival protests continued, with tensions persisting between Congress and BJP workers throughout the demonstrations.