‘Why don’t you respect the law?’ BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad slams Rahul Gandhi over dharna

New Delhi: The BJP on Friday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for staging a sit-in at a Delhi police station over the alleged denial of an FIR to a youth injured by pellets during a protest last month, accusing the Leader of Opposition of engaging in "politics of anarchy".

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said Gandhi was sitting on a dharna at the Parliament Street police station without prior permission or information.

"It is very unfortunate that LoP Rahul Gandhi does politics of anarchy. Currently, he is sitting on dharna at Parliament Street PS without permission or prior information," Prasad said.

He said police had informed Gandhi that an FIR had already been registered in connection with the incident he was referring to and that the matter was under investigation.

Prasad also pointed to a high-powered committee constituted by the Supreme Court to investigate the matter.

"Rahul Gandhi, don't you want to respect any law?" he asked, while accusing the Congress of taking an approach that undermines the law.

Prasad also alleged that the Congress was "stuck" over its position on the national song, Vande Mataram, and condemned Gandhi's protest.

Why is Rahul Gandhi protesting?

Gandhi on Friday staged a dharna at the Parliament Street police station, accompanied by 19-year-old Sahil Lochab, who suffered pellet injuries to his eyes and abdomen during a July 20 protest led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) against the NEET paper leak and alleged examination irregularities.

Lochab later underwent surgery at the AIIMS Trauma Centre.

Gandhi first went to the Mandir Marg police station with Lochab and sought the registration of an FIR over the alleged use of pellet guns. After the demand was not accepted, they went to the Parliament Street police station, where Gandhi met Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Sachin Sharma.

Following the meeting, Gandhi and Lochab sat on a dharna at the police station, which also houses the DCP's office. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other senior party leaders later joined them.

Gandhi has accused the authorities of failing to take action over the alleged pellet injuries suffered by Lochab during what he described as a peaceful protest.

In a post on X, Gandhi said the use of pellet guns against a peaceful protester was "not just illegal" but a "serious crime".

He also alleged that neither Union Home Minister Amit Shah nor Prime Minister Narendra Modi had explained or apologised over the incident.

"Now, when Sahil wants to file an FIR for justice, even that is not being allowed," Gandhi said, asserting that the Constitution and citizens' rights were being undermined.

He said he would ensure that an FIR was registered and that a judicial inquiry was conducted into the incident.

Police response

Police sources said the New Delhi DCP was in contact with Gandhi and that the complaint submitted by Lochab would be forwarded to the Delhi Police Crime Branch, which is investigating complaints related to the protest.

According to sources, Lochab had approached the police with his lawyers on August 14 and submitted a written complaint, but an FIR was not registered. He subsequently pursued the matter through email and phone on August 17, but did not receive an acknowledgement, the sources said.

A police source said the complaint would be examined as part of the Crime Branch investigation.

The police, however, did not provide details of the case officer or the FIR number.

Meanwhile, the Rapid Action Force and additional police personnel were deployed around the Parliament Street police station in view of Gandhi's protest.

The CJP-led agitation had culminated in the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on July 25.