Rahul Gandhi accused of pushing pregnant journalist

Indian opposition leader and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has been accused of pushing and pulling a pregnant journalist by the arm. The incident took place on Monday (October 12) during an opposition protest against the Special Intensification of Voter List (SIR) process at the Supreme Court premises, claimed OneIndia journalist Richa Parashar. She is currently admitted to a hospital in Delhi.

Richa told NDTV that Rahul Gandhi's supporters are making various comments against her and trying to belittle her experience. This has left her mentally broken.

"This is not a matter for Congress or BJP. I am a common citizen, I was doing my duty. What people are saying is very sad," he said.

When BJP leaders visited her at the hospital, Richa narrated the incident on camera in front of them. She alleged that Rahul Gandhi grabbed her arm and pulled it so hard that she lost her balance and fell, hitting her knees and stomach on the hard floor.

Richa further alleged that Rahul Gandhi also pushed his cameraperson. As a result, the person fell on him. Then four or five more people fell on them, which further led to chaos.

What happened in the Supreme Court premises?

According to Richa, he was standing near a gate in the Supreme Court premises during the protest by the opposition alliance 'India' demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He was waiting for Rahul Gandhi to come out and take his statement.

Richa said that she first pushed the microphone towards Rahul. When Rahul gestured for her to move the microphone, she did so. But when other journalists pushed the microphone forward again, she also took her own microphone in order to fulfill her professional duties.

Describing what happened next, Richa said that Rahul Gandhi came towards her and grabbed her arm and pulled her hard. Later, his security guards removed him. The journalist claimed that she fell forward in the crowd as there were a few steps at the entrance of the Supreme Court.

Richa said she was three months pregnant. She claimed that everything happened so fast at the time of the incident that she did not have a chance to handle the situation.

The back and forth claim over the video 

Richa posted a video of the incident on social media. However, Congress leaders and activists claim that the video does not clearly show Rahul Gandhi pushing her or pulling her by the hand.

Congress leader Alka Lamba, in a post on social media, rejected Richar's allegations. She claimed that there were several inconsistencies in the timeline of the incident. She also accused the BJP of creating propaganda in this regard.

Lamba questioned why Richa was taken to the hospital at 8:30 pm when the incident, as per Richa's claim, took place between 3 pm and 4 pm. He further alleged that Richa's sister had gone to the office of a BJP MLA. He also questioned the fact that she had an X-ray done while pregnant.

However, the report did not mention independently verified information to support these claims and questions.

On the other hand, Richa claimed that a video captured amidst the chaos shows her being pulled by the hand. She said that Rahul Gandhi first pulled her and then her cameraperson was pushed. As a result, she fell on her knees and stomach and the cameraperson also fell on her.

Richer further claimed that his mobile phone was completely broken in the incident and the microphone receiver also fell off. He also said that his own voice can be heard in the video.

He said that he was talking to Rahul Gandhi very politely. He did not expect such behavior from the leader of the opposition. At the moment of the incident, he felt like he would not be able to breathe anymore.

BJP's fierce attack

The BJP has lashed out at the Congress over the incident. Party spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari alleged that instead of helping the pregnant journalist, Congress leaders and activists have questioned her statement.

Bhandari, who was among the BJP leaders who visited the journalist in the hospital, told reporters, "Rahul Gandhi, who talks about fighting patriarchy, behaved like a goon."

He also attacked the Congress, citing Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's popular slogan 'Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon'. Bhandari claimed that this incident has exposed the true face of the Congress.