Jammu,: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday staged a protest outside the Congress office in Jammu, demanding the resignation of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and accusing his party of applying double standards on issues concerning women’s dignity.
The protest was led by Jammu and Kashmir BJP leaders, including party president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma, former minister Priya Sethi, Rekha Mahajan, general secretary Sanjita Dogra and Mahila Morcha president Advocate Neha Mahajan. Demonstrators raised slogans against the Congress and burnt an effigy of the party.
Addressing the protesters, Sharma accused the Congress leadership of inconsistency between its public advocacy of women’s empowerment and the conduct attributed to some of its leaders and workers. He called on Gandhi to take responsibility for his party’s actions and resign.
Sharma also raised allegations of misbehaviour towards female police personnel by Congress leaders and workers, demanding accountability. He questioned the Congress leadership’s response to allegations against one of its MPs in a molestation case.
The BJP president further accused the Congress of pursuing a political approach that, he claimed, undermined public confidence in national security agencies and constitutional institutions.
Priya Sethi said women’s dignity should remain above partisan politics and called on the Congress to address questions concerning the conduct of its leaders.
Rekha Mahajan said women deserved respect, security and equal dignity, while Sanjita Dogra called for consistency from political leaders on issues concerning women’s rights. Neha Mahajan said BJP’s women workers would continue to demand accountability in cases involving alleged disrespect towards women.
Several BJP leaders and legislators attended the protest, including general secretaries Baldev Singh Billawaria and Gopal Mahajan, and MLAs Narinder Singh, Chander Prakash Ganga, Devinder Manyal, Vikram Randhawa, Gharu Ram, Yudhvir Sethi, Arvind Gupta, Surinder Bhagat and Rajiv Bhagat.
The allegations against Congress leaders were made by BJP representatives during the protest.
BJP to launch district-wide protests in J&K to highlight people’s issues
The BJP in Jammu and Kashmir will launch protests across districts against the government to highlight people’s issues, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Sunil Sharma said on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters here, Sharma said, “The way the government is currently functioning in Jammu and Kashmir, it is miles away from the common man and the poor… it is the duty of the BJP at this moment to become the voice of the poor and those on the streets.”
He said the party tried hard to raise issues confronting the people inside the assembly, but the government had shown no inclination to address the concerns of the poor and various sections of society.
“Even today, they remain busy trying to save their own house in the name of reshuffle and Cabinet expansion,” he added.
Sharma said the BJP cannot turn a blind eye to the issues and problems faced by the people.
He said the party had convened a meeting with all district presidents and general secretaries, where it was decided to take to the streets and hold the government accountable.
“Very soon you will see the BJP protesting against this government across every district, waging a fight, and holding them accountable,” Sharma said.
