BJP fumes over abusive slogans at Darbhanga rally; complaints filed against Rahul

Patna: The BJP-led NDA on Thursday launched a blistering attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of using "extremely indecent and disrespectful language" against PM Narendra Modi from the stage in Darbhanga and allowing his party leaders to hurl abuses at Modi's late mother during the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra' on Wednesday. BJP state media incharge Danish Eqbal and party worker Krishna Singh Kallu lodged police complaints against Rahul at Kotwali and Gandhi Maidan police stations in Patna. BJP Mahila Morcha later took out a protest rally in the city. "The BJP workers will not allow Rahul's proposed padyatra in Patna on Sept 1 to conclude his ongoing campaign in Bihar," Kallu warned. What fired the BJP was the verbal abuses hurled at not only the PM but his late mother from the stage in a meeting organised by one Congress leader, Mohammad Naushad, at Atarwel Chowk in Jale assembly constituency when Rahul's yatra was passing from Darbhanga to Muzaffarpur on Wednesday. When the issue flared up after a video went viral on Thursday, Naushad apologised and said he had left the venue with Rahul's yatra towards Muzaffarpur when a few party supporters raised slogans using abusive language against the PM. Rahul and Tejashwi were also not present at the venue that time.Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary said, "It is a shameful day for democracy. The language of these people is creating hatred." Minister and Jale MLA Jibesh Kumar, attacking Naushad, said, "Since Rahul himself uses ‘tu-tadak' language for the PM, what else can be expected from his party workers? This is Congress culture, but people will give them a befitting reply in the coming elections." BJP OBC Morcha national general secretary Nikhil Anand said, "Elections have not even begun and the level of cheap politics that the opposition has resorted to is worrying for democracy." HAM(S) chief and minister Santosh Suman added that Rahul Gandhi and his allies were resorting to indecent language out of frustration. The NDA's ally JD(U) also joined the chorus. Party spokesperson Arvind Nishad said, "The objectionable remarks made by Congress workers against Modi and his late mother in Darbhanga are an insult not only to the PM but to the entire country and democracy. Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav should apologise to the people of Bihar." The Bihar State Women Commission has written to the Darbhanga district magistrate seeking strict action against those responsible for abusing the prime minister and his mother. At the national level, BJP president J P Nadda released a video message condemning the incident. He said Congress and RJD had "crossed all limits of indecency and humiliated the rich culture of Bihar." Congress, however, sought to distance itself from the controversy. Party spokesman Asit Nath Tiwary said the organisation had no role in the incident. "Many unknown people were also present in the crowd that climbed the stage. Some of them used abusive language. Congress does not support it and strongly criticises such acts. BJP is enough in the country for abusive language. The people are already troubled by them," he said.